tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8955969367748458862024-03-20T12:07:00.535-07:00Selah and AmenRighteous CritiqueUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-895596936774845886.post-10267706232751794092014-01-04T06:39:00.000-08:002014-01-04T06:39:48.024-08:00360 Degrees of Beautiful<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">In January 2013,
one of my college friends was trying to get in touch with me. KMarie sent me a
Facebook message asking me to give her a call. Outside of social media, I
couldn’t remember the last time I’d physically spoken to her. It was probably
at her rooftop birthday party a few years ago. Nevertheless, I was excited to
catch up with one of the most beautiful people, inside and out, that I’d ever
know. However, this conversation wasn’t exactly two old girlfriends catching
up. K began to tell me about a fitness challenge that she and one of her
friends were launching in just a few days. It would be a 90 day friendly
competition among women all over the country who were committed to changing
their life. While many people have been aware of my constant struggle with
weight, no one had ever really approached me like K did. I was honored that
she’d even think of me to be apart of her group and then, I became embarrassed.
Had I completely let myself go to the point where K knew I needed some kind of
intervention? And it was as if she knew that I’d begun the routine of beating
up on myself when K began to congratulate me on all my life accomplishments to
date and then said “Candice, I just believe you deserve to be 360 degrees of
beautiful.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Before K said it
that January day, aside from my mother, no one had ever called me beautiful.
Immediately, it was as if I knew K didn’t mean to call me that and I decided
not to take it to heart. I did, however, decide to sign up for her fitness
challenge for one reason: because she asked me to and there is nothing I
wouldn’t do for her. (Yep, she’s just that amazing.) I was placed in a group
comprised, largely, of college friends and Sorors. Many were mothers,
educators, businesswomen and fitness enthusiasts- all looking to transform
their lives for the better. We created a forum where we could check on each
other’s progress, send our daily “Sweat Checks” and keep each other motivated.
That group became my lifeline. I was pumped! I was excited! I went hard….at
first. And then, my enthusiasm waned. I began to get discouraged because I
wasn’t seeing results fast enough. So I quit, I stopped checking in with my
group and tried to find ways to avoid having to check in with K, too. I tried
to convince myself that I was just too busy to focus on me right now. I tried
to tell myself that other people and things needed me more than I did and to
take even an hour out for myself was beyond selfish.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">However, all
that changed over the summer. In 10 weeks, 11 people I knew died- including a
dear friend that I’d just talked to the day before and one of my most beloved
cousins. I attended 9 funerals in a matter of 2 months. There is something
beautifully haunting about death. At the same time you’re mourning the fact
that these individuals are gone, you’re also re-evaluating your own life and
the choices you’ve made to date. The end of someone’s life can, in many ways,
cause you to begin living your own. I made an appointment with a primary care
physician to begin to take charge of my life. I met my new physician and
confided in her that, regardless of my marital status, I wanted to be a mother
within 3 years. I told her I would be 31 this year and I wasn’t interested in
high risk pregnancies or being the old mom with the young kids. As only a
middle aged Black woman can, my beloved OBGYN kindly told me that nothing about
my health said I wanted to be a mother anytime soon. Then, she began to get
very clear about what I needed to do to first be healthy for myself and then to
ensure the pitter patter of little feet. She gave me the task of losing 10
pounds before my next follow up visit with her. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFUc63XA1IvEThphs3EpHFmLW7b5CGkxkmlb9kCPxjizRVqtDrcb6svsfgfluQBDi2cb6VBl5JV-uktYe0WQxH0edLVDShiuVx9P-5tLx6FntjrYbTA1JJ_JSUXMBoxGYkmKjJJVl5iqdx/s1600/beautiful.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFUc63XA1IvEThphs3EpHFmLW7b5CGkxkmlb9kCPxjizRVqtDrcb6svsfgfluQBDi2cb6VBl5JV-uktYe0WQxH0edLVDShiuVx9P-5tLx6FntjrYbTA1JJ_JSUXMBoxGYkmKjJJVl5iqdx/s320/beautiful.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It was something
about being told that I was the only thing in my way that lit a fire underneath
me. Like many, I look forward to an amazing career, a wonderful life and
someone to share it with. But motherhood? I am not ashamed to say that is my
heart’s deepest desire. Yet, according to my doctor’s report, I wasn’t living
like I believe I deserved it. So many of us have dreams. It could be to lose
weight, go back to school or start a business. But we live like we don’t
deserve those dreams. We eat what we want and don’t exercise. We miss
application deadlines with no regret. We create every excuse as to why the
business will fail before we even get it started. We live like we don’t believe
in ourselves. For years, I struggled with my weight and finally resigned that,
if I was going to be fat, at least I would be smart. Yet, every time I stepped
on the scale or chose the elevator over the stairs, I knew that I wasn’t living
my best life. But, part of me believed I didn’t deserve that best life.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I left that
office focused and determined to lose that 10 and more. One of my best friends
introduced me to Twerk Zumba (yes, church girls twerk!) and I began to pop,
lock and drop the weight. Family and friends began to notice a change in me. I
recently had coffee with an old friend for my birthday. As she complimented me
on my weight loss, I told her about my conversation with KMarie in January,
when she told me I deserved 360 degrees of beautiful. I told my old friend that
I was beginning to believe it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Why am I telling
you all of this? Maybe you don’t have a friend like KMarie. Maybe your family
and friends have been talking so much that you’ve chosen to drown them out.
Whatever it may be, please know this: YOU DESERVE TO BE 360 DEGREES OF
BEAUTIFUL! Yes, you! You really do! So be it! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Have you made a
resolution to lose weight this year? Ignore all the people who make jokes that
you’ll forget about the gym by March and get moving!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Have you decided
that this will be the year that you’re going back to school? Tune out all the
folks who want to remind you of the number of times you’ve stopped and started
and go enroll!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Is this the year
that you want to get that business off the ground? Don’t let anyone tell you
that it can’t be done!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Living our
dreams makes us beautiful. It brings brightness into a world that has suffered
in the dark. You deserve to be beautiful. You deserve to bring beauty. You
deserve to be given beauty. One year later, as I congratulate myself for losing
twice what my doctor instructed me and as I grunt through my first week of a
new and much more intense exercise program, I am grateful that I listened to my
friend and found myself deserving of 360 degrees of good and perfect gifts.
This year, may we all find the courage to walk into the beauty that is all
around us.</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-895596936774845886.post-29227353158785529882013-01-01T21:19:00.001-08:002013-01-01T21:19:42.906-08:00Oh The Joys of Sisterhood
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Tonight, Black folk all across the country tuned into the
TLC premiere of <i><a href="http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/tv/the-sisterhood" target="_blank">The Sisterhood</a></i>, a
reality show chronicling the lives of pastors’ wives in Atlanta. The show honestly
could have been called Real Housewives of the Church, premiered on Bravo and
we’d have been none the wiser. It was ratchet. It was hilarious. It was
hilariously ratchet. And I loved every minute of it.<o:p></o:p></div>
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What I found to be equally as funny was the social media
commentary. Church folk everywhere were clutching their pearls in disbelief
that women so “kingdom minded” could be so vain, “slightly* vulgar and
inappropriate. (Said church folk also keep me in the RHOA loop so much so that
I don’t even have to watch it and we all have a standing appointment to watch
Love and Hip Hop together every Monday night but I digress.) <o:p></o:p></div>
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Yes, it was just something about <i>Sisterhood</i> that got the Saints hot. Could it possibly be….just
maybe that<i> Sisterhood</i> is one of the
most accurate depictions of the Black Church on television since Thelma and
Reuben got married on <i><a href="http://youtu.be/sy2Po7nSj-M" target="_blank">Amen</a></i>?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Ratchetness aside, it’s true that the Black Church has made
the pastor’s family royalty, for whatever reason. Years ago, the pastor’s wife
was not referred to as “First Lady” and her sole income wasn’t attached to
that. Growing up, the pastor’s wife was “Mrs. So and So” and she was a teacher,
nurse, secretary, baker or seamstress. You knew the pastor’s wife outside of
the church. She had an identity. And “PKs” were just that….kids. Sure, their
dad was your pastor but they were treated no differently than you were. Today,
some pastor’s wives don’t work, are on salary at the church over women’s
ministries and one look at Facebook and Instagram photos indicate that today’s
PKs live lives of relative “baller” status. They have no (real) jobs and the
best clothes and cars. Shoot! I wanna be a PK! It has come to the point where
“first families” in the church expect to be treated like THE First Family and
many placed justification for First Family Appreciation Days on rocky
theological foundation. They call it favor; others might call it foolishness.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglD2AN7wybTHtxG1WpQutHhnNvzPVwswOuYq3ngvJkbCIcDYjhPBao5xhamQRlzHkIxbhw6XnWU8ZcVrXWbo8Vt8ytkoQBuQG6B6lzUcxqNrr8L4nkSy8PTbYo90L5Vsv0Gir01ebdwJ0n/s1600/Riding+Dirty+Church.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglD2AN7wybTHtxG1WpQutHhnNvzPVwswOuYq3ngvJkbCIcDYjhPBao5xhamQRlzHkIxbhw6XnWU8ZcVrXWbo8Vt8ytkoQBuQG6B6lzUcxqNrr8L4nkSy8PTbYo90L5Vsv0Gir01ebdwJ0n/s320/Riding+Dirty+Church.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Is <i>Sisterhood</i> a
hot mess? Yup. Will 53 of this 60-minute show make you cringe? Sure will. Will
I still be watching? You betcha. But just like I can’t deny the Soror with the
potty mouth and OMG pics because she’s my sister, I can’t deny the stories of
these four wives because they’re very much a part of the Church to which I
belong. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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It goes without saying that this is not the way of every
Black church in America. However, most mega and aspiring mega ministry
congregations do rock this way- which is why <i>Sisterhood</i> isn’t a far stretch from true reality. And, even still,
I want to be clear: not every mega ministry in Black America is depicted in <i>Sisterhood</i>. But more are than aren’t. We
can pretend but, unfortunately, we all know at least 3 “first ladies”,
whether they’d go on this show or not, whose lives play out a little like this.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In a world where lawsuits are filed against pastors every
fifth Sunday, private DM and text messages screenshots between a
#DearYoungPreacher and woman at the well are retweeted with wild abandon and
church fights make local news, if we want to change what we see on <i>The Sisterhood</i>, we need to change what’s
going on in the church, starting with leadership.<o:p></o:p></div>
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See you next Tuesday!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/YNZAApTSDSU?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<!--EndFragment-->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-895596936774845886.post-65850806056876599432012-01-04T02:11:00.000-08:002012-01-04T02:11:44.802-08:00The Transition<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Grace and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Peace Be Unto You<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">My name is Debra Benbow of Winston-Salem, North Carolina. I have been charged by God, released by our mother and given the blessings of my Pastor to share this picture with you.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">On November 2, 2010, I lost “the best baby sister in the whole wide world” Darlene Benbow. As difficult as it was to say goodbye, our grief was shortened as the Lord did such a great and marvelous thing for us!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Two hours before ths picture were taken, prophecy was spoken “her (Darlene’s) transition will be like none other seen.” When this photo was captured, we were actually trying to capture the galaxy of stars hovering over the house. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Outside to the naked eye and through the camera viewfinder, we saw this:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mSSBoQomcb8/TwQlTToxpAI/AAAAAAAAAEs/8oULEIMP_qM/s1600/House_1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mSSBoQomcb8/TwQlTToxpAI/AAAAAAAAAEs/8oULEIMP_qM/s320/House_1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Yet when we later looked at the pictures, this is what we captured:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MQufBPy44Yg/TwQk2izTW9I/AAAAAAAAAEg/ykqMpn9OfkM/s1600/House_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MQufBPy44Yg/TwQk2izTW9I/AAAAAAAAAEg/ykqMpn9OfkM/s320/House_2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">This photograph is undoctored and untouched; the images here were never seen with the naked eye. </span></div><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The Benbow Family recognizes this beautiful witness is not just for us. This picture of our beloved Darlene’s transition is for the believer and non-believer. My friends, it does not end with our last breath! We are escorted home to our Heavenly Father!</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br />
Selah and Amen!<o:p></o:p></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-895596936774845886.post-69583790533462326322011-11-01T23:08:00.000-07:002011-11-01T23:08:49.834-07:00What An Aunt Taught Her Niece<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">In the past year, not a day has escaped me where I do not think about my mommy’s baby sister, my Aunt Darlene. Along with my mother and grandmother, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>she was one of the most influential women in my life. While I beamed when she told one of her nurses that she actually had three children (my cousins Mark, Reggie and me) instead of two, the truth is my aunt had been helping to mother me for quite some time. And as only a mother can, she taught me lessons about life and loving people that would prove to be some of her greatest gifts to me.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzthgv3ZjguAZ80ZItH40XrzhEq_zzTBSu3L6-Z3HARTrySyv9ce2dALZVZkkEEKibSZLOmDq5RF6UAQ2VT4uHpMTAUj62JHLUszwnyBL2Y8jeqF42zfxLp3l0ec1qP8HNHh90mQVFKdvA/s1600/Aunt+Darlene+and+Candice+Smiling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzthgv3ZjguAZ80ZItH40XrzhEq_zzTBSu3L6-Z3HARTrySyv9ce2dALZVZkkEEKibSZLOmDq5RF6UAQ2VT4uHpMTAUj62JHLUszwnyBL2Y8jeqF42zfxLp3l0ec1qP8HNHh90mQVFKdvA/s320/Aunt+Darlene+and+Candice+Smiling.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";"></span><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">Though she was 24 years older than me, I can remember defending my aunt quite a few times in my childhood. My aunt was, what some would call, “different” and consequently people believed they could take advantage of her. Whether family, friend or foe, I took defending my favorite aunt (a title that had nothing to do with the extra cookies, cake and ice cream I got when I went to her house) with great pride. However, as a kid, I would be confused when the next time my aunt saw that offensive person, she was happy and excited to see them. Did she forget what they said? Surely I didn’t. How could she feed them? How could she help them? How could she be happy to see them after what they did? It was only until this past year that I understood my aunt’s capacity to love people. It was beyond anything that seemed humanly possible. That’s how I knew it was of God. That’s how I knew it <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">was</i> God.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";"></span><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">A few years ago, I visited my aunt and she had a Spanish bible. “Ummm what are you doing with that?” I asked her. “Reading it, what you think?” She was quite witty and snappy. “No you aren’t. You don’t even know Spanish.” “Yes I do Candice Marie!!!” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Now you don’t.” “Oh my goooosh, why you bothering me?!” “Okay then. Prove it.” My aunt took a big sigh, opened her Bible, turned to a passage and said “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” We both erupted in laughter. Even still, I thought my aunt having a Spanish bible made no sense. I knew she had Hispanic neighbors and would attend church services with them. But it would be during the last year of her life that I would truly learn just how impactful my aunt sought to be.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl5Zz97i1p6xlAp6LgP_BB_C3Ebg0oTORnn2zqaTZE4do9L-cjSya8pYwSIUEj4ZjA0EFDSPgkSmjHSNuRRKt6bJt_4TUOfrdXBeTUe7h1ZsTaPhdGTINP6shv8ttxWm2gXWDdGOBnQAaL/s1600/Aunt+Darlene+and+Candice+Christmas+Pajamas+2009+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl5Zz97i1p6xlAp6LgP_BB_C3Ebg0oTORnn2zqaTZE4do9L-cjSya8pYwSIUEj4ZjA0EFDSPgkSmjHSNuRRKt6bJt_4TUOfrdXBeTUe7h1ZsTaPhdGTINP6shv8ttxWm2gXWDdGOBnQAaL/s320/Aunt+Darlene+and+Candice+Christmas+Pajamas+2009+%25281%2529.jpg" width="257" /></a></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";"></span><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";"><o:p><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">She lived next door to a Hispanic family. They seemed nice; I didn’t interact with them much when I would visit Aunt Darlene and Reggie. I would pass their house often and see my aunt sitting and talking with the mother and my cousin Reggie chasing the kids with water ballons or digging in the dirt with them. My aunt told me that Mrs. Mary, her neighbor was her best friend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Later we learned that, when they moved there, Mrs. Mary spoke very little English and my aunt offered to teach her English in exchange for Spanish lessons. Mrs. Mary’s children came to know my aunt as their aunt because she would care for them whenever Mrs. Mary and her husband needed additional assistance. For a family of a completely different culture and ethnicity, my aunt provided refuge.</span></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";"><o:p><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";"></span><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">In my aunt’s “difference”, she taught me more about Christ than some sermons or songs. She lived His life. Her love kept no record of wrong against those who would seek to wrong her. Her love was kind to the neighbor who left all things familiar and came to a foreign land. Her love was patient with a neice (and sister) who didn’t seem to get to the movie theatre on time so she could watch the previews. I never saw my Aunt Darlene angry at anyone or heard her say anything harsh in my life. Her life emulated who I want to be- who we all should be- loving, protective, generous and kind.</span></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";"><o:p><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";"></span><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">There are moments I wish I could crawl into my aunt’s bed and watch another episode of Gunsmoke with her. There are times I would give anything for another game of Connect Four or to shop for our matching Christmas Eve pajamas. My heart yearns for another chance to glance over at her from the drivers seat, laughing uncontrollably, because she’s singing the wrong lyrics to yet another song with wild abandon. Most importantly, I wish I could run to her and say “Aunt Darlene I’ve got it! I’m learning how to love right and it’s all thanks to you!” But those moments will not come; instead my life has to be my gratitude. By giving someone Christ every day, I will show that I recognize how unbelievably blessed I am to have been allowed to be known and loved by her. I may never understand why God allowed me to witness her take her last breath but I do know that I learned so much from seeing how she chose to use the many that came before that one. May I continue to grow in amazing grace so that I can offer the world love, the type of love that can change people, until I see her again.<o:p></o:p></span></o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ8VqwXSWiKIHslbM9vAtxC_a8P_97D2r9obPw__6tJm_Y5JOIOaRPzFmf6v64XReE3uG3CqqcxEQIGUfispeIRaWCtX1NhhfYKZQKZMKZXwzeL8klbIwqH3vzKCCQlUA0jbBNKecAoHIv/s1600/Aunt+Darlene+Smiling+At+Fair+2007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ8VqwXSWiKIHslbM9vAtxC_a8P_97D2r9obPw__6tJm_Y5JOIOaRPzFmf6v64XReE3uG3CqqcxEQIGUfispeIRaWCtX1NhhfYKZQKZMKZXwzeL8klbIwqH3vzKCCQlUA0jbBNKecAoHIv/s1600/Aunt+Darlene+Smiling+At+Fair+2007.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Darlene Lynell Benbow<br />
December 17, 1957 – November 2, 2010<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /> <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /> </span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-895596936774845886.post-3405608077686963822011-10-11T14:05:00.000-07:002011-10-11T14:05:20.463-07:00Occupy the Church<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">When the "<a href="http://occupywallst.org/">Occupy Wall Street</a>" movement began several weeks ago, there were many who were aloof to its mere existence. I was one of them. I saw the posts on Twitter and on Facebook. I saw it featured on local and national news reports but still had not paid enough attention to the revolution to learn about it. When one of my friends, who is very active in “Occupy Chicago”, expressed his concern that very few African-Americans were engaged in the movement at local and national levels, I had to come clean. Here I am: a PhD student engaged in social activism and completely ignorant to one of the greatest social movements of my time.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">So I educated myself and began to see how vital “Occupy Wall Street” is to providing a voice to those who have been disproportionately affected by the current financial crisis. Those who have long since been ignored by corporate businessmen and policymakers were now at their front door demanding they be recognized. As I began to think about the beauty and potential of this movement, I jokingly said to my friend “You can occupy Wall Street. I’ll occupy the Church.”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">But why not occupy the Church?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">While that is a profound question, a more fundamental one to ask is “Where is Jesus in the midst of this current economic disaster?” Jesus was always engaging the poor; His ministry fundamentally served them. Before He left, He charged His disciples to continue the work He began. Continuing that work is more than a “weeping endures for a night” or “hold on until your change comes” sermon. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ <a href="http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm">most recent report</a>, the national unemployment rate is 9.1%. However, the unemployment rate for Hispanics is 11.3% and 16% for African-Americans. Continuing the work of Jesus is utilizing every resource available to alleviate the problems concerning “the least of these”. This is why we need to “Occupy the Church”.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">When was the last time we experienced a movement that held the Church accountable to its mission of outreach and social justice? With the rate of unemployment climbing and the problems associated with that unemployment continuing to plague minority communities, it is time to demand accountability from our religious institutions. The mission of and mandate on the Christian church is to be like Christ. Those who followed Jesus, and those who did not, never ceased in soliciting assistance from them. And he gave it. His church is to do the same.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">So what should “Occupy the Church” look like? While I would love to see every member of inner cities and rural communities journey to the nearest church and find ways to hold them accountable, I believe the movement should be both proactive and reactive. During “Occupy the Church”, there should be:</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">- A call to discontinue building and capital campaigns that do not meet emergent church safety needs and are not directly related with outreach. A family life center does not constitute outreach. Donating that money to families in jeopardy of foreclosure does. We can no longer afford to celebrate the wealth used to build new edifices when the communities that surround it are impoverished.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">- An increase in the benevolence given by a church and the number of people who can receive it. Members are required to be “financially active” before they request financial assistance from some churches. Additionally, many can only request assistance once per calendar year. Given our nation’s current economic condition and the mission of Christ, this movement would see all people helped by God’s house.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">- A collective and consistent rally of religious leaders demanding elected officials create opportunities that will return employment to minority communities. We can no longer afford for politicians to file into our sanctuaries to appeal for votes during election cycles but, once elected, use their vote in favor of policies that do not employ or sustain us.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">- The critical engagement of young people, and the culture to which they subscribe, that will allow healthy conversation from which the Church can grow. As the Church seeks to fight against the injustices of the poor, it must take every advantage to gain warriors. The strongest voice is that of the youth. Productive conversation can both save a generation and propel a movement.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">- An ethnically integrated approach to solving the issues surrounding poverty. The current economic crisis has impacted us all. However, African-American and Hispanic communities have always had less expendable income per household than their White counterparts. It is the responsibility of every Christian to aid their siblings. Inequality continues to polarize but, through authentic faith, we can unite and work effectively together.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">“Occupy the Church” does not seek to dilute the importance of the “Occupy Wall Street” movement. It is necessary. However, what “Occupy the Church” will do is extend the reach and impact of the message to those who would be its greatest benefactors. “Occupy Wall Street” seeks to effect change on Main Street. “Occupy the Church” would have its greatest impact on Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. “Occupy Wall Street”, though impactful, will never raise questions most pertinent to us and seek to answer them. The issues “Occupy the Church” cannot ignore include:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">- Almost half of African-American and Hispanic children live in poverty</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">- African-American women continue to lead the nation in new HIV/AIDS cases</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">- The fight against immigration continues to treat our brothers and sisters from across the borders in a way not intended by God</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">- Judicial sentencing continues to disproportionately affect African-American and Hispanic communities</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">This movement will not be easy. It will mean many who once had no accountability will be held accountable. It will cause those who profess to be Christ-like to actually become Christ-like. Most importantly, it will ensure that the message of Jesus remains accurate and effective in combating those social injustices that grieve our land. Who knows how long “Occupy Wall Street” will continue? But “Occupy the Church” should remain in effect until the Savior returns.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Weekly, I will raise an “Occupy the Church” issue for discussion on my blog, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://www.selahandamen.blogspot.com/">Selah and Amen: Righteous Critique</a></i>. Additionally, I will appeal to religious leadership, at both local and national levels, to begin the dialogue in their congregations that will transform their communities. I encourage you to follow me on Twitter @CandiceBenbow and join the conversation #OccupyTheChurch.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">©CMB, 2011</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-895596936774845886.post-4407891041912361722011-09-16T14:20:00.000-07:002011-09-16T14:20:19.905-07:005 Ways to Increase Black Church Presence and Impact at HBCUs<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Fall is, indeed, an exciting time of year on any college campus- especially the HBCU. With Freshmen embracing new discovery, Seniors readying themselves for their next steps, and Homecoming festivities, the historically Black college environment creates endless opportunities for transformation and excitement. However, with the increasing incidents of <a href="http://www.hbcudigest.com/lane-college-releases-statement-about-last-weeks-shooting-the-jackson-sun-jacksonsun-com/">campus violence</a> and the recent deaths of promising students, at <a href="http://www.hbcudigest.com/florida-am-womens-hoopster-fatally-stabbed/">Florida A&M University</a> and <a href="http://www.hbcudigest.com/woman-found-fatally-stabbed-at-bowie-state/">Bowie State University</a>, many are beginning to question the ability of HBCUs to educate and protect Black America’s future pioneers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It does not go unchallenged that Black colleges face challenges which seek to undermine its historical legacy and present impact in the global society. Fiscal irresponsibility, academic inconsistencies, customer service complaints, apathetic students and disconnected alumni continue to plague African-American institutions and cause negative perceptions in the community that are diametrically opposed to the missions of the colleges. As we seek find solutions to the complex issues our beloved institutions face, including the engagement of Black religious organizations, specifically the Black Church, is a necessary step.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Both nestled in the African-American community, the Black Church and the HBCU are sister institutions- supplying each other with leaders, thinkers and workers. The vast majority of Black religious leaders are graduates of HBCUs and members of Black Greek Letter Organizations. Black college faculty and staff serve as ushers, choir members, Sunday School teachers and trustees within their congregations. Essentially, the two are one and creating a more intentional relationship can be beneficial to both organizations. Going beyond the traditional “off campus” Black church campus ministry structure, here are five ways African-American congregations can increase their presence (and potential impact) on HBCU campuses:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><strong>Financial Assistance to the University</strong></u></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Building funds are just as necessary to HBCUs as they are to Black Churches. Congregations can create a giving campaign that directly benefits their local Black college. This can range from an annual fundraising event, creating an outreach fund to be collected during each service to a special 5th Sunday offering. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><u>Financial Assistance to Students</u></strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Federal Aid does not always cover the financial expenses of Black college students. Most have to work full or part time jobs to offset costs, with little to no assistance from their families, who may also be experiencing economic distress. Allowing local students to receive church benevolence can satisfy an outstanding balance and purchase textbooks, food or computers. And a $30 Walmart gift card can go a long way.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><u>“Adopt” a Residence Hall and/or Academic Building</u></strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Black churches in a city can be innovative, collaborating with each other to adopt residence halls and academic buildings. Hosting game and movie nights, as well as a variety of seminars, create a social outlet for students. Providing snacks, throughout the semester and during final exam periods, are a great way to show support and encouragement.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><strong>Black Church Week</strong></u></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next to Homecoming, campus organization weeks are sacred times on the HBCU campus. With the introduction of new Greeks, free food and exciting programs, students work hard and look forward to the themed festivities. Black churches can host their own weeks with programming and activities that will appeal to the average student and advance the church’s mission of outreach. Be creative. Just don’t forget the free food!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><strong>Sunday Dinner </strong></u></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Whether one attends church services or not- Sunday dinners are a staple in the African-American community, unifying families and creating lasting memories. Black churches can cook or cater dinners for HBCU students to provide them with a much needed sense of home. Not making church attendance the requirement for eating shows the church is commitment to reaching all students, not just those who would participate in activities without incentives.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This does not mean that if Black churches had a greater presence on campus, what happened at Bowie State and FAMU would not have happened. Focused and increased presence does, however, have the ability to change an atmosphere and the people in it. Black churches and Black colleges owe it to each other to be more for each other. So much depends on it.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-895596936774845886.post-10594177098756568282011-09-06T12:44:00.000-07:002011-09-06T12:44:07.276-07:00The Day Twitter Picked On The Pastor<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A few days ago, Shaun King informed everyone of his <a href="http://www.shauninthecity.com/2011/09/stepping-down-as-pastor-of-courageous-church.html">intention to step down as pastor of Courageous Church</a> in Atlanta, Georgia. For many, including myself, we saw it as a blow. Courageous represented a breath of fresh air in the American (especially Black) Church System. We were tired of church as usual and, from the outside looking in, Courageous seemed to give an alternative to that. I know I wasn’t alone when I saw Courageous being a national movement, with “churches” everywhere.<br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
I didn’t know who Shaun King was until a few months ago. A friend of mine texted me about a young pastor going off on Twitter, <a href="http://news.vivasoft.hu/component/content/article/34-cnn/88863-pastor-shaun-king-exposes-bishop-johnathon-alvarado-as-a-rapist-and-abuser-of-boys-on-twitter.html">calling another pastor a rapist</a>. I read Shaun’s timeline and was livid, to say the least, and I told him as much. That’s not what we do. That’s not who we are. While I was glad a pastor in Atlanta was FINALLY speaking out about the sexual abuse against children in churches there, I didn’t think he handled it correctly or effectively. Unbeknownst to me, I had a few good friends attending Courageous and they called to tell me about their pastor and the church. Honestly, the more I learned about Shaun King, the more I liked him. He was quirky, he approached ministry in the most radical of ways and it seemed genuine.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But this post isn’t about Shaun King. It’s about the thinly veiled attempts by pastors today, through social mediums, to exalt themselves as true spiritual leaders while, at the same time, discrediting him and <a href="http://www.shauninthecity.com/2011/09/3-extremely-hard-earned-trust-me-lessons-on-starting-something-new-change-and-discipleship.html">his thoughts</a>. More importantly, it’s about how that’s doing absolutely nothing to advance the kingdom and Christ’s mission. In talking with a few of my friends in ministry, many advised me to not write this. One said “Those dudes are treacherous. Be careful.” The sad thing is he was wasn’t talking about mobsters; he was talking about pastors- men and women who lead spiritual and religious congregations. But let’s be honest: the celebrity strand of Black Christian leadership and their minions are cold and unfeeling. But growing up in Winston Salem, North Carolina and the Missionary Baptist Church taught me two things: how to fight in the spiritual and in the natural.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With that said, let’s go.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How does this work exactly? How do you publicly crucify a preacher using your Twitter timeline while privately soliciting sex (from men and women) through your direct messages? Yes #TwitterPastors, the email notifications of your direct messages are flying across the country faster than Airtran. Are they teaching this in seminary? Do they also teach you how to add to your Twitter followership daily while your church members are leaving in droves over your fiscal/spiritual/social/personal irresponsibility? Seriously; what are we doing here?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I said a few weeks ago that today’s Black pastor sees himself as a celebrity while yesterday’s saw himself as a servant. I caught flack for it then. I stand behind it even more today. It’s so very easy to bully from behind HootSuite, TweetDeck or UberSocial. There’s nothing revolutionary about tweeting a Scripture of “correction” from your iPad.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It amazes how vocal pastors are on Twitter today but were mute in regards to the continued sexual objectification of children at the hands of religious leadership a year ago.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’m in awe how quickly pastors used Twitter to vilify anyone who spoke negatively against the late Pastor Zachery Tims just a few weeks ago but are doing the exact same thing to Shaun King today.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fascinating, isn’t it, how people can find every Scripture under the sun to demonize someone else’s behavior but can’t find one that will cause them to shut up and work inwardly on themselves?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Is this that “move” and “flow” we’re always talking and tweeting about? Can I step out of it, then?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We can preach these sermons, on Sunday, about ignoring “man” and only listening to the voice of God and doing what He tells us to do but, on Tuesday, we’re using 140 character spaces to mock someone for doing just that. It’s pathetic. I don’t know the specifics of Shaun King’s departure from Courageous Church and I don’t believe what the majority of pastors are saying about it. What I do know is I admire anyone who’d rather freely give financial resources to members and the community than have a cap on the benevolence fund. I tip my hat to any pastor who sees radically changing the conditions of the impoverished as more than just “a string of community service projects”. I applaud anyone who recognizes, when his presence in a place hurts more than it helps, it’s time to go. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But I don’t know if God told Shaun to leave his post at Courageous and it’s not our place to use our personal leadership experiences to answer that. If God did tell him to leave, I am proud that He courageously walked further into His purpose. If He didn’t, God’s forgiveness and grace extends to him like it does us all. But what I do know, what I’m 100% sure of, is that God didn’t tell any of His shepherds to call their follow laborer “immature”, “foolish”, “unwise”, “ridiculous”, “irrational”, “a punk” or “reaping what he sowed”. That I do know.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is my prayer that one day we all (myself included) can put ego and platform building aside and truly be about our Father’s business.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-895596936774845886.post-27207140680265283522011-05-19T13:12:00.000-07:002011-05-19T13:12:59.627-07:00What’s Beef?: When Black Academics Go Hip Hop and Get Gully<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At one point, I thought about getting some popcorn. I mean…it was getting that good. The jabs were landing ever so effectively. The punch lines were classic. Amidst the texts/calls/BBMs asking the same question “Did you see that?!”, I knew I wasn’t the only one watching the festivities. People everywhere were looking at this. This was one for the history books. No, we weren’t watching season finales or reality television reunion shows. With our feet crossed- some of us even in pajamas- and phone in hand, we all tuned into an epic Twitter battle royal on Tuesday. However, instead of our favorite rappers sparring at each other using 140 characters or less, it was our professors- some of Black America’s leading scholars and thinkers- going in.“Is this Revenge of the Nerds?”, a good friend jokingly asked. Ohhh but it was so much more. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On Tuesday, the world became aware of the full extent of <a href="http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/the_obama_deception_why_cornel_west_went_ballistic_20110516/">Dr. Cornel West’s disdain for President Barack Obama</a>. The tenured Princeton professor and philosopher called him a “Black mascot” for Wall Street oligarchs and corporate plutocrats. Insisting that President Obama has ignored the plight of the poor and Black in America, West also explained his personal issues with the President. Apparently, while campaigning for him, Dr. West called and prayed for (then) Senator Obama and he didn’t call him back. And to add insult to injury, Dr. West wasn’t even given tickets to the Presidential Inauguration. He had to watch it from his hotel room with his mother and brother, while the hotel worker assisting him with his luggage had a ticket. Oh and then there’s Dr. West’s claim that President Barack Obama, the leader of the free world, came up to him last year at the Urban League's 100th Anniversary Convention and “cussed” him out.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Let me first say this- I think Dr. Cornel West has contributed profoundly to significant discussions in America. I love his work. Taking Dr. King’s book <em>Why We Can’t Wait</em> and drawing parallels of progression from it with Dr. West’s <em>Prophesy Deliverance</em> is one of the highlights of my academic career. But I, like a great number of people, gave West a glaring *side eye* for his remarks in Chris Hedge’s piece. I’m not one of those people who thinks President Obama is above critique; I was highly critical of a healthcare system without a public option. So Dr. West and others who can substantively critique leadership are necessary. But let’s be real: that’s not ALL Dr. West is doing. Unfortunately he (and others) has begun to believe his own hype to the detriment of his message. It’s a sad day when the one who told us you can’t save and lead the people if you don’t serve and love them is upset a hotel bellhop was granted the access he was seemingly denied. Then, <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/43071536#43071536">later that evening with Ed Shultz</a>, he said he wanted to affirm Pres. Obama’s humanity and protect him from attack. Where is Ed Lover when you need him? C’mon Son. We don’t believe you; you need more people.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And, as scholars do, many took West to task for his disparaging, unfounded and egotistical remarks. For instance, many referred to <a href="http://www.thenation.com/blog/160725/cornel-west-v-barack-obama">Dr. Melissa Harris Perry’s piece</a>, calling West to task, as the academic equivalent of Nas’ “Ether”. I mean…..there were only two things I thought about after reading it: playing “Ether” and using my best Fabolous voice to say “Niiice”. It was good. It was grounded in scholarship and rooted in fact. But, though we’d seen a great deal of back-and-forth all day after West’s interview was published, it seemed things within Black academia took a slight turn after Harris Perry’s piece was posted. My jaw dropped when I read "It is becoming increasingly difficult to take @mharrisperry seriously." tweeted by Eddie Glaude, Princeton professor and West’s good friend and protégé. And that- my friends- is when, for me, it got real. Several other professors and scholars waged scholastic war via Twitter on, what can only be classified (in my opinion) as the truth.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While Harris Perry has no need for anyone to defend her (she did an awesome job of that on her own), I couldn’t help but be amazed at how quickly scholastic critique evolved into personal attack. Black scholars can hide behind nine syllable words and a string of phrases they believe the average person wouldn’t comprehend, but many known an academic “yo mama” when they see it. <a href="http://www.thefeministwire.com/2011/04/19/shayne-lee-your-revolution-will-not-happen-between-these-thighs-an-open-letter/">This isn’t the first time Black scholars have gone at it through social networking mediums</a>. However, the below the belt comments fielded Tuesday evening showed just how low public intellectual discourse in Black America can go when pushed. As a student admiring the contributions of many of these scholars, I wonder what type of tone is being set in the Black intellectual community. Why does it seem we can’t get points across without personal attacks? I’m not watching Rihanna and Ciara go at each other’s throats through subliminal tweets, I’m watching highly educated and well paid individuals undermine their colleague’s credibility. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This has gone beyond feeling slighted because President Barack Obama didn’t announce his presidential candidacy on, what some believe to be, THE African-American platform (let’s be honest- that’s exactly what started all this in the first place). This has gone beyond any structured critique of leadership and policy implications. This has become personal. On Tuesday, Princeton professor Imani Perry tweeted “Cornel West opened the space. Period. And in my tradition we respect elders, period. Disagreement can be consistent w/that.” I agree. However, when we see <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_tlI0o0VBU">West imply one of the most engaged leaders within our community is weak and can be “easily manipulated”</a>, we do not see respectful disagreement. When we see our educational leaders refer to the work of their colleagues as “bombast and bellicosity”, we do not see respectful disagreement. When we see them resort to petty remarks of misspelled tweets just to get a point across, we do not see respectful disagreement. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Those who accuse the African-American community of not having a substantive critique of the Obama Administration can’t then become hypocritical and unwilling to accept a substantive critique others have of them. I purchased every book Dr. West has published. I even own and have read the majority of the works of the intellectuals who squared off on Twitter. I support them and believe their voices are necessary. However, in a community where our children hear the first African-American President of the United States referred to as someone who is afraid of “free Black men”, the last thing they need to hear are their future professors picking on each other. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With so many in the Hip Hop generation climbing the Ivory Tower, academics and pop culture will continue to intertwine. Beef is good. It’s good in the music. It’s even good in academia. It keeps us on our toes, ensuring our product- whether music or philosophy- is fresh and most beneficial to the progression of the people. But beef is problematic when it becomes personal. It’s counterproductive. Most importantly, it’s just straight up whack. It was entirely too many degrees and too much money talking reckless on Twitter Tuesday. Using my best Florida voice, I ask “Where they do THAT at?” Sadly, in the African-American intellectual community.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-895596936774845886.post-32898233773328482412011-03-09T10:28:00.000-08:002011-03-09T10:28:05.148-08:00Let Them Eat Pancake: Lent 2011<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s Ash Wednesday so you know what that means: Lenten Season is upon us. I must confess, as a child, I didn’t know much about Lent. All I remember was getting stuck by an usher with a straight pin as she attached a palm to my dress, going to the Seven Last Words services and thinking Jesus sure did have a lot to say on the cross (for a child, any service longer than an hour is punishment), having Easter egg hunts around the church and getting a new Easter dress every year. It wasn’t until I became an adult, more recently in the last three years or so, that I became much more serious about living, what I heard referred to as, an “Easter life”.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It started small for me: “I’ll give up sweets”, “I’ll give up shopping everyday”, “I’ll give up Facebook”, “I’ll give up texting (to know me is to know the last two are indeed true sacrifices!!!).” And I would do it. I would read more but not really gain from the experience. And I realized why I wasn’t evolving in the ways I hoped; because, I was simply just going through the motions: </span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Give up for 40 days. Go shopping on Easter.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Give up for 40 days. Eat peach cobbler on Easter.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Give up for 40 days. Tell Facebook “I’m baaaaack” on Easter.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Give up for 40 days. Engage in a minimum of eight text conversations on Easter.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It didn’t matter what I gave up because I wasn’t committed to understanding and appreciating the depth of the sacrifice. And so, this year, I am.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yesterday, I had my first Shrove Tuesday experience! For those who don’t know (and I didn’t until fairly recently), Shrove Tuesday concluded a week of deep reflection in preparation for the Lenten season. On Shrove Tuesday, many (most of Lutheran, Methodist, Episcopal and Catholic traditions) enjoy a pancake supper, as pancakes are comprised of most ingredients usually forbidden during Lent. While there, I was able to have a conversation with the mother of the founder of a festival I look forward to every other year. We talked about how her son’s dream allowed me to meet one of my best friends and how that was a testament to the purpose and power of his dream. I saw friends I hadn’t seen in years. We sat and talked and laughed for hours and hours and hours (we were actually asked nicely to carry our conversations to another venue a few times). While I’d already decided what I would be fasting from during Lent, I didn’t see how my Shrove Tuesday experience reinforced I made the right decision until this morning.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For the next forty days, I will be saying goodbye to the personal use of text, BBM, chat, email, Facebook and Twitter. This is, without question, a true sacrifice! I looked at my cell phone bill a month ago. In a month, I used only 400 minutes and sent 9500 text messages. I typed to a whole bunch of somebodies close to 10000 times. I couldn’t believe it. Then again, I could. I thought about how I would often miss a phone call and follow it up with a text message. I thought it all the times I’ve said Happy Birthday through BBM. I can give you real time updates on the life and times of some of my closest friends- not because I talk to them but because I’m their friend on Facebook and follow them on Twitter. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Don’t get me wrong: much of my usage is for sheer convenience. I’m busy and they’re busy and, sometimes, an email/text/message/ping is sufficient. However, after last night, I realize I miss talking and laughing with my friends. There’s a humanity there that technology can’t replace. I can’t misconstrue tone in conversation. My friends can’t be confused by my meaning and intention when we’re on the phone. Most importantly, we begin to value each other differently when we take time to talk to each other. But isn’t that what Lent is about? Isn’t about sacrificing something to understand the worth of the gift in Christ we’ve been given? Not only did Christ give me the gift of eternal life, He gave me the gift of wonderful friendships. I am loved by some amazing people. They need to know I appreciate that- that I am humbled by that. A text could say it. But it would be better coming from me.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here’s to some life changing pancakes and to the next 40 days of reminding us all of why we’re really here.</span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEginvtZ7LtU05neCV_r5sHPm4DR6EG37BMudWnuuv036bLmvg63iX_lJk20lz9ZEvx2ZCqc8PJMZnZCfIdrnxVRN7hH_Txgyxynt-QxUVlpj8G2NFs_bkkpi5Ec3roPSRezKh8XNqkJVM5g/s1600/Lent.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEginvtZ7LtU05neCV_r5sHPm4DR6EG37BMudWnuuv036bLmvg63iX_lJk20lz9ZEvx2ZCqc8PJMZnZCfIdrnxVRN7hH_Txgyxynt-QxUVlpj8G2NFs_bkkpi5Ec3roPSRezKh8XNqkJVM5g/s320/Lent.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">©CMB, 2011</span><br />
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</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-895596936774845886.post-78762572420078000022011-03-09T10:14:00.000-08:002011-03-09T10:14:21.984-08:00Westboro Baptist Church Needs What Would Jesus Do Bracelets<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilbL0TGS0fdjeYUcPVq5w-uy5VAoRwD-pS63KqdmhJyF1xDJqzQTzQ3P_e46WBL2rncJ6fsT2Vl3-lQl4ZeRUR_I-qvhmLfqbxiul84OuOI32vDBDm4hA04y2Q2X4Lc9s02F4VvE5PDT6J/s1600/wwjd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilbL0TGS0fdjeYUcPVq5w-uy5VAoRwD-pS63KqdmhJyF1xDJqzQTzQ3P_e46WBL2rncJ6fsT2Vl3-lQl4ZeRUR_I-qvhmLfqbxiul84OuOI32vDBDm4hA04y2Q2X4Lc9s02F4VvE5PDT6J/s1600/wwjd.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you don’t see me in church on Sunday, I’m on a very special assignment. I’m going to give the members of Westboro Baptist Church a few of my old “What Would Jesus Do?” bracelets. I had a lot of them- almost one to match every outfit so I’ll have enough to go around. Because they need them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No, seriously. They do.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last week, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Westboro Baptist Church, stating it was not liable for its protest at the funeral of a soldier killed in Iraq in 2006. The father of that soldier sued the church and initially won. The Supreme Court’s decision protects Westboro’s right to free speech, no matter how deplorable it may be. And it is.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I always thought Fred Phelps and his congregation were some of the biggest yahoos to ever name the name of Christ. But then I learned the truth: Westboro Baptist is, for the most part, comprised of Phelps’ relatives-which makes it a family church. I have no problem with family churches. Communities need them. I do, however, have problems with family churches that spew hate filled venom in every corner of the country and call it God’s work.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmSvlbrwKcQVJhm6wO24GopD4V377clSqSYYMuRw-Smi8gHXPhyphenhyphen42IxVf8XqctStP9gwecBkTR7Ku7cEOwMiXwpMXSFK68rwnklWJNvvLj_YFHSfc-tLAe-XERmUo9DiSieqXBBhDcp365/s1600/godhatesfags.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmSvlbrwKcQVJhm6wO24GopD4V377clSqSYYMuRw-Smi8gHXPhyphenhyphen42IxVf8XqctStP9gwecBkTR7Ku7cEOwMiXwpMXSFK68rwnklWJNvvLj_YFHSfc-tLAe-XERmUo9DiSieqXBBhDcp365/s320/godhatesfags.jpg" width="298" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I guess I should provide my position: I agree with the Supreme Court’s ruling. We have a right to free speech. While I think to engage in demonstration at the funeral of fallen soldiers (or anyone for that) is in poor taste, it can’t be made illegal and can’t be used as grounds for a civil suit. The Supreme Court’s function is to interpret the Constitution of the United States of America. The Constitution states that American citizens have the right to peaceful assembly and freedom of speech. Ensuring eleven of his thirteen children are practicing attorneys, Fred Phelps ensures that Westboro never crosses the line between unethical behavior to illegal and unconstitutional behavior. As I teach my students, all crime is not deviant and all deviance is not criminal. Westboro’s actions, however, should encourage our local and state officials to pass legislation that limit the proximity of protestors to funerals. Arizona did this when Westboro announced that it would protest at the funeral of Christina Taylor Green, the 9yr old victim in the Tucson massacre. Until legislation is passed at the national level, this is going to be very much a state’s rights issue.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But beyond that, this is about the purpose of Christianity. I will never say, as many have said in interviews/blogs/the like, that the members of Westboro Baptist Church are not Christian. I do believe they love God. I believe that, given their interpretation of Scripture, they believe they are warning a nation of the consequences of living outside of Christ’s love. I also believe they are missing a key element: Christ’s love.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I did not live during the time of Christ but I think I know enough about Him to believe He would not agree with the vile and malicious name calling. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I did not live during the time of Christ but I think I know enough about Him to believe He would not want the sacred space of saying goodbye to a loved one violated by jeers, screams and picket lines.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I did not live during the time of Christ but I think I know enough about Him to believe He would rather that I show all people the same love and compassion He showed me, if I claim to be His disciple.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Westboro Baptist Church has it wrong. They have it all wrong. And if I can round up all my bracelets and head out there, I’m going to tell them just that.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">©CMB, 2011</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-895596936774845886.post-73351564143489974462011-03-04T14:10:00.000-08:002011-03-04T14:10:18.644-08:00My Education from the Miseducation (of Lauryn Hill)<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This past Tuesday evening, I saw something that I should never see again. I shouldn’t have seen in the first place. I was on the hunt for Marsha Ambrosius’ new album, <em>Late Nights and Early Mornings</em> (which is fabulous- by the way) and Adele’s latest release <em>21</em> (this will be one of the greatest albums of this decade) and I stopped dead in my tracks. I saw…</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">…brace yourself…</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">…are you ready?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">…postive?!?!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">…okay...</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I saw <em>The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill</em> on sale for $7.00!!! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I know right!!!! I couldn’t believe it either! Such blasphemy! With just a five dollar bill and eight quarters, you could purchase one of the greatest musical masterpieces ever. How could they do this? It angered me. It really did. I left the store and didn’t even buy the other CDs out of protest.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I went home and pulled out my copy of <em>The Miseducation</em>. It’s never far from me. I’ve often said that if the Bible had a soundtrack, <em>The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill</em> would be it. Yes, this album is that definitive to me. And I’m not alone. Every review of this gem agrees with me. But it took me a long time to get to a place where Lauryn’s miseducation could speak to mine.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When the album was released, I was starting my junior year of high school. I was still naïve, virginal, oblivious to love/men/relationships/confidence- all the things Lauryn spoke to. But I still knew I had something precious. I was beginning a transition in my life- a transition into womanhood. I was ready for college and all the uncertainty that came with it. More times than not, I would just sit and hit repeat over and over and let these words wash over me:</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>And deep in my heart, the answer, it was in me. And I made up my mind to define my own destiny.</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>The Miseducation</em> did something all my years of church attendance could not. It helped me clothe myself in true self confidence and become aware of my place in and potential impact on the world.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With college (and adulthood) came the musings of love and I thought I’d found it. My movements, my intentions, my sacrifices, my thoughts reinforced that I was in complete and total possession of what so many twice my age were still pursuing:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>These buildings could drift out to sea- some natural catastrophe. Still there’s no place I’d rather be, cause nothing even matters to me. Nothing even matters. Nothing even matters to me. Nothing even matters. Nothing even matters to me…..</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But not only could Ms. Lauryn give me the words to articulate great and wonderful emotion, she was also my source to define what was turning out to be more of a complication than my life’s completion:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>No matter how I think we grow, you always seem to let me know it ain't workin'. And when I try to walk away, you'd hurt yourself to make me stay. This is crazy.</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And she deposited the wisdom in me that, if I let go, it would get better:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>Everything is everything. What is meant to be, will be. After winter, must come spring. Change, it comes eventually.</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lauryn Hill and her 16 pieces of luggage were- and continue to be my roommates on this journey known as life and love. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They have been here when I’m dealing with the consequences of my devastating mistakes:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>It’s been three weeks since you’ve been looking for your friend- the one you let hit it and never called you again…Don’t be a hard rock when you really are a gem, baby girl….</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">…or when I force someone to deal with the consequences of their devastating mistakes:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>You might win some but you really lost one. You just lost one, it's so silly how come. When it's all done, did you really gain from what you done done? It's so silly how come. You just lost one.</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">…or when I realize that where I am probably isn’t where I need to be:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>But I loved the young man….and if you've ever been in love then you'll understand that what you want might make you cry and what you need might pass you by- if you don't catch it. And what you need, ironically, will turn out what you want to be- if you just let it.</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">…or when I realize that where I am is exactly where I am supposed to be:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>See my soul was weary but now it's replenished. Content because that part of my life is finished…I used to love him. Now I don't.</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">…or when I realize that where I want to be is not where I am:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>I know I'm imperfect and not without sin. But now that I'm older, all childish things end and tell him- tell him I need him. Tell him I love him and it'll be alright.</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Through the one hour and seventeen minutes of <em>The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill</em>, I have grown and continue to grow. I evolve from the unassuming schoolgirl to a woman, unashamed of her mistakes and unrelenting in her quest for love. That type of transformative power has to be worth more than 140 nickels. It has to be.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I believe it is.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>Forgive them, Father, for they know not what they do.</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Forgive them indeed.</span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">©CMB, 2011</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin1vQEjgjY8y68a7YXL0-Q-xxpWEe7ndUZljJ9Ai8OVhCaYXpL-NHjyFff3PPz62S2YPP5pY12X97E1NSbFGZWxHecn86lOArpEPt5fKIdJ-lp-WC630LO6n-tTy0zLJJIVF8345_yve1-/s1600/Miseducation+of+Lauryn+Hill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin1vQEjgjY8y68a7YXL0-Q-xxpWEe7ndUZljJ9Ai8OVhCaYXpL-NHjyFff3PPz62S2YPP5pY12X97E1NSbFGZWxHecn86lOArpEPt5fKIdJ-lp-WC630LO6n-tTy0zLJJIVF8345_yve1-/s1600/Miseducation+of+Lauryn+Hill.jpg" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-895596936774845886.post-21269617121312550572011-03-02T11:27:00.000-08:002011-03-02T11:27:22.423-08:00Divine Dialogue To Honor The Life and Legacy of Dr. Peter Gomes<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 15pt;"><span style="color: black;">WINSTON SALEM, North Carolina, March 2, 2011 – On February 28, 2011, the American religious community lost one of its most powerful voices in the personality of Dr. Peter Gomes. Divine Dialogue with Candice Benbow will dedicate this week’s show to the life and legacy of the Plummer Professor of Christian Morals and Pusey Minister in the Memorial Church at Harvard University.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 15pt;"><span style="color: black;">"Dr. Peter Gomes is without question one of the greatest theologians who ever lived," says host Candice Benbow. "He will be missed dearly as a generation seeks to advance his work and purpose through their own. We now look to his sermons, books, interviews and other scholarly works for a blueprint on how to become impactful theologians." </span><span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 15pt;"><span style="color: black;">The show will air live March 3, 2011 from 7:00pm – 8:00pm EST on BlogTalk Radio at </span><span>www.blogtalkradio.com/divinedialogue<span style="color: black;">. Listeners who wish to join the conversation can call 909-533-8314.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><span>An ordained Baptist minister, Dr. Gomes was a leading scholar on American religion. As an activist, Dr. Gomes often championed causes of civil rights, gay rights and gender equality within the church. Time Magazine once called him “one of the seven most distinguished preachers in America.” Both a member of Harvard’s Divinity School and School of Arts and Sciences faculties, Dr. Gomes served as Pusey Minister in the Memorial Church at Harvard since the early 1970s. Dr. Gomes was the author of several best-selling books including <i>The Good Book: Reading the Bible with Mind and Heart</i> and, most recently, <i>The Scandalous Gospel of Jesus: What’s So Good About the Good News</i>?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKa3yiTWhYHZUbIRtv_3Lj4C9H0XT64ngdoQPIh-Ova7pEvGVyMUOXFPHh2GRP-gxlVtbsxBHSaTKpfkEnMd82yTMFxNKJ117NiLnmox2-ShpkoNYNEwVdrl8Bjrcxroea_kmbBTbVkmOn/s1600/Gomes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKa3yiTWhYHZUbIRtv_3Lj4C9H0XT64ngdoQPIh-Ova7pEvGVyMUOXFPHh2GRP-gxlVtbsxBHSaTKpfkEnMd82yTMFxNKJ117NiLnmox2-ShpkoNYNEwVdrl8Bjrcxroea_kmbBTbVkmOn/s320/Gomes.jpg" width="205" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 15pt;"><b><span style="color: black;"><br />
About Candice Benbow</span></b><span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN">Candice Benbow’s commentary regarding the impact of religion and social ethics in black and brown communities makes her one of this generation’s emerging leaders and thinkers. </span><span>Her blog, Selah and Amen: Righteous Critique, allows her to marry her passion for writing with her social, political and spiritual commentaries. Additionally, she writes “Preparing for Purpose” devotionals that are read by subscribers across the world and recently completed writing the series “When God Speaks” that looks at a passage of scripture from each book in the Bible. In 2011, Candice launched <i>Divine Dialogue</i>, an internet radio show which discussing religious and social issues impacting the African-American Community. A published poet, Candice is at work on her first book, <i>Prophets and Pop Culture: Blurring the Line Between the Sacred and Secular in Black America</i>. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 15pt;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span><span>info@candicebenbow.com<br />
www.candicebenbow.com </span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-895596936774845886.post-14303071419463256702011-02-17T14:12:00.000-08:002011-02-17T14:12:33.778-08:00Divine Dialogue Radio Show Playlist: This Is My Story! This Is My Song! (2/17/2011)<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>Lashun Pace: I Know I’ve Been Changed</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em></em></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><em></em></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>James Cleveland: Peace Be Still</em></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><em></em></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>Gospel Harmonettes: Jesus On The Mainline</em></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><em></em></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>Mahalia Jackson: Troubles of the World</em></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><em></em></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>Mississippi Mass Choir: Hold On Old Soldier</em></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><em></em></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>Walter Hawkins: Be Grateful</em></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><em></em></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>Mississippi Mass Choir: Near The Cross</em></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><em></em></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>Whitney Houston: I Love The Lord</em></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><em></em></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>John P. Kee: I Believe</em></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><em></em></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>Kirk Franklin: Love</em></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><em></em></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>Brian Courtney Wilson: Simply Redeemed</em></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><em></em></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>Kevin Levar: A Heart That Forgives</em></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><em></em></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>Yolanda Adams: Open My Heart</em></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><em></em></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>Fred Hammond: You Are The Living Word</em></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><em></em></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>One Nation Crew: Standing In Your Grace</em></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><em></em></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>50 Cent: God Gave Me Style</em></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><em></em></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>Goapele: Closer</em></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><em></em></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>India.Arie: God Is Real</em></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><em></em></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>Donnie Hathaway: Someday We’ll All Be Free</em></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-895596936774845886.post-10327298793964802902011-01-30T11:14:00.000-08:002011-01-30T11:14:17.597-08:00Affectionate Responsibility: The Doing of Love<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You know they’re coming. Those moments when you’re confronted with the worst of you so that the best of you can break free. Sometimes those moments come right after you’ve rolled your eyes at someone who beat you to the last pair of Nine West leopard pumps…on sale…in your size. *hangs head* Other times, they come right after you cut someone off in traffic, took their parking space or said an intentionally unkind word. The ugliness of our imperfections can show in a myriad of ways that, if unchecked, cause the beauty in us to be called into question.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That’s what happened to me. Here I was wearing love like a banner; basking in the fact that I was becoming almost a martyr for it. And that’s not a problem. Everyone should want to sacrifice themselves so that a higher purpose is served. For me, that purpose was love. But is that what I was giving? It wasn’t until one of those moments came, through a conversation with a friend, I accepted that the answer was no.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I realized my conception of love only suited me and what I was trying to do. I can purpose, with everything I have, to be the bridge that closes the religious gap which divides us all but if the people I encounter daily do not recognize the authenticity of my intentions with them, it doesn’t really matter. We can be concerned with the lives of our co-workers, our neighbors, the poor and the impoverished but if we can’t show concern to those who show concern for us, what are we doing? We can be kind to strangers on the street, believing we’re unknowingly entertaining angels, but what if we are not treating the angels we know are in our lives with the same affection?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These questions and the numerous others I had after my talk caused me to wonder if I really knew what love does. Not what love is…because there is a difference. I know that the iPad is Apple’s newest (and coolest) tablet toy but I have no clue what you do with it. I am certain that love is integral to existing and thriving in this world but I was beginning to see that I wasn’t so certain of its mechanics. And so I went to the place where so many retreat in order to get the very answer I needed: 1 Corinthians 13. Needing it in another way, I sought the Message Translation.</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Love never gives up. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Love cares more for others than for self. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Love doesn't want what it doesn't have. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Love doesn't strut.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Love doesn't have a swelled head, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Love doesn't force itself on others, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Love isn't always "me first," </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Love doesn't fly off the handle, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Love doesn't keep score of the sins of others, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Love doesn't revel when others grovel.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Love takes pleasure in the flowering of truth. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Love puts up with anything, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Love trusts God always, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Love always looks for the best, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Love never looks back but keeps going to the end.</span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As if it were my first time reading this, I finally understood that if I want to be love, I have to do what love does. So I read it again and replaced love with myself.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Candice never gives up. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Candice cares more for others than for herself. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Candice doesn't want what she doesn't have. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Candice doesn't strut, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Candice doesn't have a swelled head, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Candice doesn't force herself on others, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Candice isn't always "me first," </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Candice doesn't fly off the handle, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Candice doesn't keep score of the sins of others, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Candice doesn't revel when others grovel, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Candice takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Candice puts up with anything, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Candice trusts God always, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Candice always looks for the best, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Candice never looks back but keeps going to the end.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is what I’m supposed to do. This is what we’re all supposed to do. Love is what we’re meant to be. We can’t quit. We can’t boast. We can’t force. We can’t live in the past. We can’t be unwilling to forgive. For if we are any of those things, we can’t be love. As I read our job description, I recognize how great the task is before us. We are not perfect. At no point will we ever master all of these things. But we can try. We can try to offer everyone we meet the same radical behavior that changed our lives. And when we get tired of trying to do it, we will just do it- because it’s a part of us. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s what we do. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s who we are. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are love. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Oh, what a blessed assurance.</span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">©CMB, 2011</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-895596936774845886.post-41657754103017661122011-01-27T14:36:00.000-08:002011-01-27T14:36:54.190-08:00A Tear's Prayer<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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</style> <![endif]--> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Oh God, sustainer of life</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Creator of all things- including us</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">We thank You for the opportunity to make manifest Your will in this earth</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">For some our presence marks moments of great joy</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">May those who greet us with smiles remember this time in the days when uncertainty is to come</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">For others we are the evidence of unspeakable pain</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">May they understand the lengths You will go to heal them</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Oh all powerful and all wise Master</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Let us fall from eyes that seek to see You in everything</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Let the hearts on which we rest be moved closer to Your will and grace</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">May we water gardens of victory</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">May we seal doors to the past</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">May we know when our time has come to be no more</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">And may we then encourage those we have met to learn to live without us</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Amen</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">©CMB, 2011</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-895596936774845886.post-9528874589258059742011-01-27T14:00:00.000-08:002011-01-30T11:15:15.880-08:00The Greatest of These is Love: My Episcopalian Worship Experience<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Mother Teresa once said “prayer, in action, is love and love, in action, is service”. From the moment I first read her words, I understood the greater power of my prayers. They were not idle words sent into the universe in hopes of better days. They were my ability to transform the life of someone else. It is not enough to verbally request that conditions be improved; my hands and feet must become involved in the work. My mother tells the story of me being 2 years and I, with tears in my eyes, packed all of my toys into a brown paper bag. She said I’d seen a commercial about children in Ethiopia and realized they had so little and I so much. I wanted their lives to be better and believed it could start with my dolls and train set. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Twenty seven years later, I am not far removed from the day I saw that commercial. I still want to live in service. I pray that God does the radical work within me that allows me to embody love in ways unimaginable. As I prayed for a more compassionate heart geared toward service, I became more intrigued by a denomination I always believed had their finger on the pulse of that: the Episcopal Church. My research of the Episcopal tradition took me beyond its early beginnings to learning more of the fight for racial and gender equality. As I read books like <u>Yet With A Steady Beat: The African-American Struggle for Recognition in the Episcopal Church</u> and <u>Episcopal Women: Gender, Spirituality and Commitment in an American Mainline Denomination</u>, I saw that all the steps taken by the Church were not easy but members challenged each other to personify the very love for which they worshipped God. And today, I admire the transparency of the Episcopal Church when it speaks of its plateaus and declines in membership. But most importantly, I admire how they refuse to allow that to impact their ability to serve the people of the world regardless of race, gender, age, class or sexual orientation. Because their love has always inspired me, I chose to visit this past Sunday. I attended St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Winston Salem, North Carolina.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">St. Stephen’s has always been in the heart of the African-American Community and lends itself as a beacon of hope for so many. Though Sunday was my first time there, I had no idea how integral St. Stephen’s was to my growth and development. As a second grade student, my mother’s teacher asked her to speak before her St. Stephen’s congregation. As a child who was encouraged by my mother to speak before our church congregation and as an adult who has spoken in many churches across this country, it was humbling to worship among the same people who encouraged her all those years ago. Connecting much of my future to her past in that present was amazing.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">There’s always the myth presented by so many unfamiliar with the Episcopal tradition that they do not read the Bible; that couldn’t be further from the truth. Though they use The Book of Common Prayer for services, it is filled with numerous passages of Scripture. The service I attended, known as the Holy Eucharist, was simplistic is nature but challenged me to a higher level of love in the grandest of ways. First, a member of the St. Stephen’s clergy entered the sanctuary with a service dog. I’d seen dogs before but never in a church! I can only imagine the love and warmth he must have experienced to feel comfortable to continue worshipping there. Too often those who do not look, act or seem like us are ostracized by the ones who profess to be so welcoming. Just in seeing him there, I was challenged to find ways to make the love I give more inviting to those different than me.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The pastor, a Ghanaian, delivered a sermon about mirrors reflecting what they see and being an opportunity to change what we see. Using a mirror as his prop, he showed us how God does the same thing. Through Him, we can see ourselves and change those things necessary to be even greater servants. I understood, then, why Episcopalians could lead lives of service. They concentrate on inward development that allows for a greater outward witness. That was also evidenced when the Bishop read the job openings he received that week and reminded the congregation of the members who worked in those places. The Bishop understood the need for collective work and responsibility to ensuring better lives for us all. If you can’t find a better way in the church, where can you go?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">And it was in a special moment that I finally “got it”. Having read the Prayer of Saint Francis so many times, I was finally in a congregation of individuals who looked like me and shared some of the same experiences I did. It was in the same sacred place where my mother once spoke about having peace on earth and goodwill toward men that I said “Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love.” Like Mother Teresa and Saint Francis, my desire should be that God use me to be the answer to whatever I pray. My desire should be that daily I strive to be a more willing vessel than I was before.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Since worshipping four days ago, I’ve begun to study the Episcopal Church more; I have even ordered my own Book of Common Prayer. St. Stephen’s is a special place. It was there I connected with a history of myself that made my journey make sense. It was there I saw love personified. It was there I was introduced to a higher sense of purpose. I was created to serve- to serve God and His people. Where is there is no love, I was designed to fill those places.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Selah and Amen.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">CMB, ©2011</span><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", "sans-serif";"></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-895596936774845886.post-15323232759229245812011-01-27T11:04:00.000-08:002011-01-27T11:04:07.327-08:00Righteous Salutations: Experiencing the United Church of Christ<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I’ve grown up in church all my life. More specifically, I’ve grown up in the Black Baptist church all my life. My childhood is full of memories of lace dresses, Easter speeches and Sunday School. As a child, I would even imitate women catching the Holy Ghost and await the punishment that came every time I was caught red-handed. A member of Girl Scouts, a youth usher and choir member and one that was never afraid to stand before the congregation and speak, socially I gained my worth in the Church. I learned who I was and who I was meant to be there. And those lessons have successfully carried me through life.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Now, as a young woman, I admittedly stand at a crossroads. While I will never abandon the teachings and leadership of Christ that have sustained me thus far, I am beginning to question if I have always manifested them correctly. As our body of Believers remains divided on so many issues, I know I have not always stood on the right side and not because I completely agreed. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said “in the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies but the silence of our friends.” In silence, I concurred with positions I do not believe.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I do not believe churches should ignore their responsibility to the poor and less fortunate.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I do not believe people should be persecuted and made uncomfortable to worship in the places I do because of their lifestyle.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I do not believe churches should remain silent as the rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are denied to many.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">And as I became more comfortable with what I didn’t believe, I knew my place of worship had to align with what I did. For the past year, I wondered if there was a place within the Baptist tradition for my views and positions. Did I still belong? The place the cradled me and challenged me to be my best self now seemed to alienate me, not in act but in ideal. As I shared my longing with my friends and others, I was encouraged to visit churches outside my denomination as I may find the peace in worship that I believed was becoming an illusion. And so, in January, I attended Parkway United Church of Christ in Winston Salem, North Carolina. The experience changed my life forever.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I’d come to know Parkway UCC through a colleague of mine. As a Sociology Instructor and she a member of the Humanities faculty, we would often swap classroom and life experience stories. We then learned, through conversation, that our position on the church was quite similar. She told me she’d found affirmation of her belief system within her UCC denomination and pulled up the website. I became so overwhelmed with emotion to read their banner “No Matter Where You Are On Life’s Journey, You Are Welcome Here”. Their belief that “God is still speaking” moved me in unimaginable ways. It was as if they recognized that because we are still here, God’s mission to spread love and peace remain active and He is still actively informing us on how to do it. The UCC has always been at the forefront of social justices in America since its inception and when the UCC decided to become an open and affirming denomination, they immediately received my respect. Someone needed to lead the charge in better treatment of all people and I was glad that it was them.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I attended Parkway the Sunday before Dr. King’s holiday during what they call their Healing and Silence ceremony. Before entering the service, I took the time to read some of the postings in the hallway. Many were information about local and national events; however, one in particular gave my heart the greatest joy. It was the story of an African-American lesbian student who received a scholarship from Parkway. This young lady’s ethnicity or lifestyle did not matter to a congregation committed to seeing her academically succeed. Though the only African-American attending service that day, I was amazed at the abundance of diversity within the congregation. Children of various ethnicities sat beside their gay mothers and enjoyed worship together. It was amazing. Not once did I feel out of place. Ironically, I felt like this is exactly where I was supposed to be. We prayed for the healing of our nation, our world and the pastor spoke of the importance of passing peace wherever we go. My heart smiled when the pastor told the congregation why the liturgist was absent and asked us to keep her dog in our prayers, as an emergency with him kept her away from service. As the mother of a 13 week old Italian mastiff, any denomination that recognizes the importance of praying for our pets is alright with me!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Probably the most moving moment came when the church was completely silent. Nothing could be heard except the sounds of the nature that enveloped the sanctuary. It was in those moments that I felt the closest to God. I thanked Him for allowing me to opportunity to see that I could love Christ and champion gay rights. I could believe in God and send my resources to third world countries, not because they should believe in my God too but, because they need them. I could be intentional in my commitment to being a better person and, consequently, effect greater change in this world than through any other means. I can be the love I feel is so missing among us today. I thank the UCC and Parkway for showing me that.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Indeed, I am welcome here.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">CMB, ©2011</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-895596936774845886.post-84822740412744221852010-10-23T09:11:00.000-07:002010-10-23T09:11:59.621-07:00CNN Does Not Care About Black People<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had two previous installments to warn me. I should’ve known better. How could I have possibly thought “Black in America 3” would actually be about real Black people…..in America? Maybe it was the title “Almighty Debt” that got me. I envisioned this lively discussion about the wealth of Black churches in proximity to the poverty of Black communities. There would be conversation about the weekly intake of our congregations and how much of that is reinvested into our communities. I just knew questions about fiscal responsibility and social accountability would have to be asked and answered. But that would have required actual research, concise objectives and realistic examples- resulting in a show that made sense. And well….that’s not necessarily what we’ve come to expect from “the most trusted name in news”.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Instead CNN spent two hours showing America had badly in debt Black Christians are. Using a 2009 Pew Study, which found that African-Americans were the most religious and most giving to their religious organizations than the country as a whole, CNN somehow sought to draw parallels between Black debt and Black spirituality. (I know right?!) The special chronicled New Jersey Pastor DeForest Soaries’ attempt to pull African Americans from the muck of financial lack and three families, within his congregation, experiencing the very thing he preaches against with fervor. The Jeffries were facing foreclosure. The husband, a luxury car salesman, and his wife, a real estate broker, had not paid their mortgage in 26 months. Fred, a high school senior, has dreams of attending college but his single mother doesn’t have the resources to send him. Carl is a husband who has been unemployed for more than a year but diligently works to find his next job. Though extremely different circumstances, CNN showed they all had one thing in common: They believe God would make a way, as we say in the Black Church say, out of no way.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Can anyone at CNN please tell me when every African-American became a Christian? I’ll wait. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Does my cousin, who is very much Black and hasn’t attended a service since he had to begin buying his own Easter clothes, not exist? Is my friend, a possessor of melanin and Buddhist beliefs, invisible? I know for a fact that both of them are broke. But given that their spiritual focus didn’t fit the limited scope of this documentary, their debt (and that of many like them) isn’t calculated into the astronomical figure with the rest of us Negroes who love Jesus. I understand it wasn’t CNN’s intention to show the varied experiences within Black America but for those who watch their commentaries and believe they’re really getting a glimpse into our lives, please know that not all Black people are Christians. While it is the faith to which many African-Americans subscribe, it is not the only one- if they subscribe to one at all. The Black religious experience is as assorted as the hues of our skin. And even among the millions of us who profess Christianity, we do not practice or engage at the same levels or with matching intensity. So for all who now believe every Black person knows that Nehemiah is in the Old Testament and has been given the Right Hand of Fellowship, I hate to disappoint you.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Therein lies the problem. Anyone who has ever taken a statistics course knows the importance of correlations. Variables must have a relationship in order to have an effect. Can anyone at CNN tell me the correlation between being a Black Christian and being in dire financial straits? Again, I’ll wait. And while CNN didn’t come out and say that they were suggesting a relationship between the two, the implication was strong enough. The underlying story of faith drove the entire documentary. Every other shot was a clip of a Sunday morning service. Cameras got close ups of Carl’s tears as he enjoyed a personal worship moment. And they even had Cece Winans singing “Oh the Blood of Jesus”. CECE WINANS!!!! “OH THE BLOOD OF JESUS”!!!! You can’t get much more Black Church than Cece Winans and “Oh the Blood of Jesus”. And what made CNN’s intention more clear was Soledad’s question to Carl’s wife. After learning they’re always $2000 short on bills but faithfully pay tithes each month, Soledad asks if they’ve ever thought not to pay tithes so they could pay their bills. Without hesitation, the wife says no. There were those watching who shook their heads in disbelief and others who nodded theirs in agreement. This is the problem when you unfairly link spirituality and financial conditions. Within the Christian faith, tithing is very important and Scriptures speak to it being a commitment between God and the believer. One tithes because they believe that percentage of their income does not belong to them, but to their savior. To suggest that Blacks who are broke and tithe are broke because they tithe mocks their belief in a way that is beyond unconscionable. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">African-Americans are not in debt because they give money to their churches. African-Americans are in debt because structures of inequality still exist. Pastor Soaries is incorrect. Debt is not a bigger problem than racism; debt is a product of racism. When Blacks are still subject to poor education, higher rates of chronic diseases, poor or nonexistent health care, expensive yet inferior housing and higher rates of unemployment more than Whites, how is debt their fault? It’s easy to suggest that African-Americans are poor because they buy $500 shoes when they only make $22,000 a year. How much effort does it take to accuse someone of going into foreclosure because they bought more house than they could afford? You never offend the oppressor when you blame the oppressed. There’s nothing groundbreaking about blaming Black people for their problems. Surprise me by asking employers why African-Americans are still paid less than their White counterparts and sometimes not even hired for specific positions. Ask bank CEOs why they, for years, did not approve the home loans of Black applicants and- when they finally did- preyed on their desire to be homeowners, offering predatory adjustable rates that made foreclosure inevitable. I am not excusing the importance of personal responsibility but let’s not ignore the systematic forces that are constantly working to ensure disproportion. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But it’s easy to see how many would think those systematic forces no longer exist with the family CNN chose to profile. How many Black families do you know that are 26 months behind in mortgage payments but have the money in 401K accounts to pay it? Seriously, I’ll wait. I forgot Black families like the Jeffries came in such unlimited supply and were perfect illustrations of African-Americans in debt. Really, who doesn’t remember being a high school senior racking up $400 worth of credit card debt every month while your parents fight the bank to keep their house and their money? That was a much more accurate depiction than the scores of middle and working class Black families who scale back in lifestyle and work hard to simply remain afloat each month. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I could not escape the feeling that “Almighty Debt” was a poor attempt to explain and a thinly veiled attack of Black spirituality. When one of those profiled spoke of their faith in God to transform their situation, Soledad’s narration constantly reminded viewers of their dismal circumstances. It almost seemed sarcastic at times: “The poor young Black boy has no father, no brother and no money for college but he has Jesus. The Jeffries haven’t paid a mortgage in two years but know God is going to make way. Carl has filled out 300 applications but feels in his spirit this next job belongs to him.” The resilient spirit of African-Americans is nothing new. The same fortitude that carried us through the horrors of slavery and Jim Crow carries us through financial oppression and withheld resources. We always survive when everything purposes to kill us. Perhaps that is what’s most fascinating to those trying to understand us. But faith in the Black community isn’t believing that God will let you keep your house when you don’t pay your mortgage. Faith in the Black community is paying your rent and believing that God will one day allow you to own a home. Faith in the Black community isn’t praising God in advance that your credit card won’t get declined buying shoes you don’t need. Faith in the Black community is praising God in advance for finding a way to buy the shoes your child needs when the money is nowhere in sight. African-Americans, in totality, are not frivolous spenders who’d rather spend our last today than save for tomorrow. And we’re not these infantile dreamers who believe that some man sitting on a throne up in the clouds is going to give us everything we want even if we don’t work for it. We are an eclectic people who believe in many things but, most importantly, we believe in the power of ourselves to find creative ways to exist and thrive within a society that will do whatever it can to keep that from happening. That is who we are.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That is being Black in America.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-895596936774845886.post-68831932518026064172010-09-24T15:55:00.000-07:002010-09-24T15:55:44.440-07:00In Order To Form A More Perfect Union: Beginning Healthy and Productive Dialogue on the State of the Black Church<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Since news of a sex scandal involving prominent mega church pastor Bishop Eddie Long surfaced earlier this week, the Black Church has been in a tailspin. Though still disheartening, had just a few circumstances in this case been different, it would have been a little easier for the Church to digest. Had the accusers been women, this may have simply been the tale of a pastor with a roaming eye or a woman scorned. But that is not the case. The accusers, who speak candidly of Long’s victimization, are men- opening the tightly sealed can of worms that is sexuality, homophobia and the Black Church. A sensitive topic, the Church is now forced to confront an issue from which we have unnecessarily dodged. But is this the true issue at hand?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While, on the surface, this unfortunate situation sheds light on a subject too long ignored in the Black religious community, it also brings questions of leadership and accountability to the forefront. In the coming weeks and months, the legal aspect of Bishop Long’s scandal will be resolved. However, that will do nothing to heal the wound that has been inflicted on the credibility and integrity of the Black Church and those who lead it. Indeed, the Church has suffered a severe hit. But our recovery is dependent upon what we do now. The Church has seen scandal before. Be it sexual or financial impropriety, we have already been here. Unless we’d like to be here again, it is imperative that we conduct the self assessment that will lead to us exposing our flawed systems of practice and strengthening ourselves if our survival is desired.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, let’s talk.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This need not be the traditional sugar cookies and watered down fruit punch Sunday afternoon meeting held where nothing gets resolved because people, tired from being in service all day, are ready to go home. This can’t even be the conversation that follows the standard “leadership talks for an hour and leaves five minutes for Q&A” format we see in congregations almost everywhere. No, this needs to be lengthy, uncomfortable, emotional dialogue that gets to fundamental problems, root causes and potential solutions. Action items, commitments to change and concrete steps to implement that change should be the outcome of such a gathering.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yes, it will be necessary to speak to notions of class, gender, sexuality, leadership and fiscal responsibility and our questions should focused. In this dialogue, we should raise inquiry such as: Who are we and where are we? What do we teach and what do we believe? Who do we help and how do we help them? What do we spend and what do we give? Who have we healed and who have we hurt? What do we have and why do we have it? Who leads us and why do they lead? And even through creating the freedom to be allowed to ask and answer those questions honestly, our probe should go further:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What, if anything, has the modern day Black Church accomplished?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Why does the treatment of those who live alternative lifestyles by the Church completely contradict the love that saved the Church?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Why is our leadership no longer morally, professionally and financially accountable to membership?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Why does there remain a substantial difference between the economic prosperity of the Church and the economic poverty in the communities in which the Church is located?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Why do misogynistic practices remain that continue to sexually objectify women and neutralize their potential to be greater leaders within our faith?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Why has the Church not taken a more active role in assisting Black youth overcome the insurmountable odds they face?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Why has the Church not adequately prepared the next generations for leadership?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When did the Church become a business and no longer a social service agency?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Why did the Church abandon the liberation theology that freed us to embrace a prosperity gospel that is enslaving us?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is not everything that needs to be asked and answered; the list of questions could become exhaustive. People want answers and deserve them. We can no longer move forward in the blind faith that God will make provision while we do not question how the resources we already have are being allocated. The cost has become too great to ignore our social responsibility to the community that has shouldered us. The treatment of women, children, gays and others by the Church has led to unconscionable pain and we must finally be held accountable. The Church must admit that in our quest to redeem the sinner, our own sins became great.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I would hope that the leaders of the denominations that govern our churches use this as an opportunity to create this kind of national dialogue. It is my desire that clergy come together locally to have citywide discussions and even create channels of communication within their own congregations. To ignore such a clear clarion call for conversation and change suggests that, as a collective, the Black Church remains unconcerned with our perception or believes the problems brewing within our walls are either trivial or nonexistent. Either position is not only destructive but perpetuates the agony many have suffered in silence for far too long.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No one knows how this particular situation will be resolved; neither do we know when we begin to learn of the many other instances of questionable activity that are occurring in congregations everywhere. What is known is that if we do not begin the honest conversation on where the Black Church is, where we are going and how we stand in our own way, we will never fully realize the potential of what we could become. And the far reaching consequences of such negligence are inconceivable.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-895596936774845886.post-22380765209162472172010-08-04T21:32:00.000-07:002010-08-19T08:10:58.645-07:00Casualties of Spiritual Warfare (Part Two): The Black Church as a Weapon to Fight Against<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I was still processing my uncle’s loaded statement and thinking about the casualties in the Black Church’s war against structural inequality and institutionalized racism, my mind began to think of my friends who’d become disinterested in church because of the unnecessary politics. I thought about the stories many have shared with me about being abused and manipulated by church leadership. Then it hit me. Not only has the Church disengaged itself from being a weapon in spiritual warfare, it has created a new set of challenges that now makes it a weapon to be fought against in spiritual warfare. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We call it “church hurt”. Preachers include it in sermons and discuss it in Bible studies. Scholars have included it in books on healing and overcoming pain. However, church hurt does not nearly get as much discussion as necessary. It is sometimes impossible to conceive that the place where you are supposed to see the best of people is where you actually see the worst. Those who fight against it are ostracized. In essence, in the church, there is the battle between good and evil.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And as my uncle said, there are always casualties.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Church has failed itself. Unaccountable and pious leadership, irresponsible spending, an inability to transition from tradition and a failure to meet the needs of membership have been some of the key contributors to some of the problems the Church has faced. It is not the problems itself but the reluctance to identify and find solutions to them that cause the fatalities in this particular war. The casualties are found in three categories.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Physical Death</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the Scriptures, any time there was a battle (physical or spiritual) there was a death. In war, they are called “necessary casualties”; sometimes people have to die in order for the mission to be accomplished. It is the same in the realm of the Spirit. On one hand, salvation could not have been possible without a death. We are grateful for that necessary casualty. But what about those deaths we didn’t realize were integral to the manifestation of God’s purpose and plan? So many find refuge in Isaiah 6 because of its description of the majesty of God. They can quote the first verse with ease: <em>“In the year King Uzziah died, I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple</em>.” Has anyone ever stopped to find out who King Uzziah was? His story begins in II Chronicles when, at the age of 16, he became the king of Israel after his father was killed. Though he helped restore Israel to its former glory, Uzziah later got arrogant. He asserted himself higher than God in worship and disobeyed the laws set forth. When the elders confronted him, Uzziah remained firm in his defiance. God afflicted Uzziah with leprosy as a consequence and he spent the rest of his life in seclusion; his son served as king in his absence. While Uzziah was “away”, he was still king and Israel was under the submission of a king who violated God’s command and refused to accept his responsibility. When he died, it was as if Israel was freed again. In order for Israel to begin to “see” God in the way they had before, Uzziah had to be removed from the situation and death was the only option.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Though not documented, I know many churches that have experienced a “freedom” or sorts after a death in their congregation. It may have been a member who bucked against new ideas at every step or tormented leadership and other members. It may have been a pastor who ruled the church with an iron fist with little to no compassion for the sheep he was entrusted. It may have been a faithful and dedicated member, whose death caused leadership and the congregation to reflect and reevaluate. Additionally, down through the years, stories were told of those who “grieved themselves to death” behind a hurt they experienced in the Church. Sadly, extreme hurt like this is not uncommon in Black Churches. Regardless of the circumstances, when war has to be waged against God’s house so that it can be set in order, the consequences may include the loss of physical life. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Spiritual Death</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Possibly more detrimental than physical death is a spiritual one. Ultimately, the end of life is a decision no longer in the hands of the individual. Spiritual death can be likened to a form of suicide, as the individual chooses to starve their spiritual beings because of a hurt experienced in the Church. Scriptures admonishes us to study to show ourselves approved, commune together with fellow saints and crave spiritual food as babies crave milk; but a person who has experienced church hurt can do anything from stopping church attendance to abandoning the faith altogether. For instance, the largest demographic missing in the Black Church is African-American men. While this trend has been studied, most Black men attribute their absence from church to an incident or series of negative interactions they or someone closed to them faced. Spiritual death is one of the greatest threats to the development of future generations of ministry leaders and lay workers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is important to know that while everyone may not experience spiritual death and become a casualty of spiritual warfare, many suffer with great spiritual fatigue. It is important to note that this fatigue is not as extreme as a spiritual death because those affected may still attend and work diligently in church and do all necessary to affirm their faith outside of their congregational commitments. It is also important to state that spiritual fatigue may not even be a result of church hurt. Victims of spiritual fatigue are simply those who’ve grown weary of consistently doing “right” with no sight of a reward. They are those who have tired in the midst of the manifestation of God’s work in their life. Honestly, it’s not difficult to do. Whether it’s a professional, personal or spiritual goal set, if it seems that it will take an eternity to accomplish, it is easy to give up and become frustrated. Churches that do not provide constant support in this area, through preaching, teaching and other assistance, perpetuate fatigue. If spiritual fatigue is ignored, it can easily lead to spiritual death.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Church Flight</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As we look at the battle against the Church, casualties we cannot afford to ignore are those who leave one church and seek membership elsewhere because the problems encountered and hurt experienced there were too great. In his 1990 study, “Explaining the Church Member Rate”, Bainbridge found that social bond theory was the greatest indicator of why a member would join and remain with a congregation. When people form strong bonds within a congregation, they are likely to stay there and be integral and committed to the work of that church. However, a severely negative encounter can cause one to abandon that commitment. Church flight makes it extremely difficult to assess church growth and the impact the faith has on nonbelievers. Also, this abandonment causes the gifts necessary for the growth and development to be stripped.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How does it feel to have the place where you’re supposed to lay your burdens become where you pick up more of them? What do you do when the person you worship God with is the one who wounds you? The Church has allowed itself in many ways to become a sanctuary where more are hurt than healed. If The Church desires to become a weapon that we fight principalities with and not a weapon that we fight against, it must take the necessary steps to rid itself of the demonic forces that is causing it to kill itself.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">©CMB, 2010 (08.04)</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-895596936774845886.post-55918037595604818442010-08-04T21:22:00.000-07:002010-08-19T08:08:53.326-07:00Casualties of Spiritual Warfare (Part One): The Black Church as a Weapon to Fight With<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sunday evening, I was discussing with my family the current state of Black churches. As I was telling my uncle how my heart was breaking for those who are subjected to what seems to be constant attempts to manipulate and control, my uncle simply said “Well, you know there are casualties of spiritual warfare too. We just don’t talk about them.”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wait….what???</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are casualties of spiritual warfare?!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I listened intently as my uncle talked about how, in war, there are always casualties; it’s inescapable. A soldier who enlists in the army knows there is a possibility military personnel will knock on the door of a loved one to inform them of their death. Knowing this, they take the oath to serve anyway. Saints in the church of old would sing confidently “<em>I’m on the battlefield for my Lord. Yes, I’m on the battlefield for my Lord. And I promised Him that I would serve Him until I die. I’m on the battlefield for my Lord</em>!” Though they sang with such conviction of their commitment to the faith and the commander of the army, even they didn’t dream their death could possibly be at the hands of the organism created to sustain them: The Church.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But that’s what’s happening.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today’s church, though still an esteemed institution, is just a shell of what it used to be. Scholar W.E.B. Du Bois asserted that while the Black Church was the center of African-American life, the church had six major functions. They were 1) the raising of the annual budget, 2) the maintenance of membership, 3) social intercourse and amusements, 4) the setting of moral standards, 5) promotion of general intelligence and 6) efforts for social betterment. Though each function is necessary to the progression of the church and African-American community, the last function Du Bois identified is of importance to this discussion. The task of Black congregations was to provide the type of assistance that enabled its members, and those in the community, to successfully thrive in society. Paramount needs in the African-American community were education and mentoring, substance abuse and health prevention, job training and employment assistance. Those needs remain the same today. Because its mission is as social as it is spiritual, combating these issues in its community is the battle Black Churches must be prepared to fight. Through this, they engage in spiritual warfare.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But what is spiritual warfare?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Almost every Christian can recite Ephesians 6:10-12: “<em>Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand again the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places</em>.” We use it to explain the concept of spiritual warfare, which is a demonic attempt to prevent God’s will from being manifested in the earth. Pastors preach this text. Emails circulate daily with instructions on how the enemy is defeated and how God’s children reign victorious. Yet, has anyone asked the Church exactly what they’re fighting? It’s easy for the Church to say it’s fighting Satan but fighting him in what? When the Black Church tackles the issues plaguing the community in which it’s housed, it is engaging in spiritual warfare. But do we see it that way? As a Sociologist, I understand structural inequality. I understand how capitalism is constructed to systematically oppress. In the natural realm, institutionalized racism is credited for disparities in economics, education, employment, health and housing. However, in the realm of the spirit, I know that because structural inequality and institutionalized racism are evil, they are controlled by forces that completely contradict the force that established the Church. For that reason alone, it has to fight it. But is it winning?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All roads lead to that answer being No. When examining data from The National Congregations Study and The Institute of Church Administration and Management, less than 60% of Black Churches have ministries addressing the target areas critical to the growth of the African American community. This does not negate the great strides many churches are making in the area of community development but national statistics speak for themselves. With an unemployment rate of 15.4%, high school graduation rates vacillating between 50 and 60% and African-Americans dying at faster rates due to a significant number of health disparities, it would seem as if the Church’s arms have become tired.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On any given Sunday, it is impossible not to hear someone sing or say “The battle is not ours; it is the Lord’s.” While that is true, it is still necessary that we suit up and prepare for the fight. The African-American community cannot afford to be defenseless against the demonic forces of structural inequality and institutionalized racism and the Black Church can’t bear the cost of not being a defender. As the Black Church could not separate its social ideology from its spiritual convictions during the Civil Rights Movement, so it must be today. There’s a war going on and we can’t keep killing our civilians when we’re supposed to be protecting them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">©CMB, 2010 (08.04)</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-895596936774845886.post-23273293969771606782010-05-29T23:02:00.000-07:002010-05-29T23:02:51.048-07:00There Is No Fear<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. – 1 John 4:18 (NIV)</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em></em></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><em><br />
</em></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>Love is such a novelty, a rarely painted masterpiece. </em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>A place few people go or ever know.</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>An underwater rocket love- exactly what I'm searching for.</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>You're brave enough to go? Tell me so.</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>Say you'll go to Nirvana. Will you leave Samsara? </em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>In the words of Dhammapada: Who will lead? Who will follow? </em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>Our love will sail in this ark. The world could end outside our window.</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>Let's find forever and write our name in fire on each other's hearts.</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>– “Say You’ll Go”, Janelle Monae</em></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had a conversation with someone who has become very special to me last night. I shared a shared a prayer I’d been praying concerning them. Recognizing that it’s all about purpose, my prayer was that God allowed them to gain greater perspective in their walk with Him and so that God’s purpose for our interactions would be clear to us and as effective as possible. Though I may have desires on what I’d like that to be, I realize that what I want doesn’t have anything to do with what God plans for me to have. And I am not afraid of whatever that is.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Why? </span><br />
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Because there is no fear in love.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and God is love.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Therefore, there is no fear in God.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When God brings something into your life, He’s only bringing more of Himself.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I went to bed with an assurance that my prayer would yield more love, more Him- regardless the design. And, amazingly, when I saw the sun this morning, I welcomed the biggest smile I could. It was something about seeing that particular portrait of Heaven that told me more love was on the way and I had absolutely nothing to fear.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And after hearing Janelle Monae, I believed it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today, I experienced how beautiful love sounds when it’s set to music. It is majestic. I smiled. I believed. And as soon as she said “Love is such a novelty- a rarely painted masterpiece”, I cried. I mean I cried. My heart began to bleed for people who don’t know what it means to love- to have the love of God, self, community, humanity….ecology. People are suffering when they don’t have to be. And it takes a great deal to decide you’ll stop hurting- which underscores Janelle’s desire.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>Say you'll go to Nirvana. Will you leave Samsara? </em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>In the words of Dhammapada: Who will lead? Who will follow? </em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>Our love will sail in this ark. The world could end outside our window. </em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>Let's find forever and write our name in fire on each other's hearts.</em></span></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In Eastern religions (particularly Buddhism), Nirvana, Samsara and Dhammapada are the equivalent of the Christian’s Heaven, Hell and the Word of God. In essence, she’s asking if we believe experiencing freedom is worth ending suffering, with only love to sustain us and endure.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You can’t possess love and be afraid to share it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You can’t desire love and be afraid to receive it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You can’t crave freedom and be afraid to embrace it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You can’t request purpose and be afraid to realize it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You cannot be afraid.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There can be no fear in love.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There can be no fear in God.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That doesn’t mean love won’t hurt. It does. It is not easy. But even in that, God allows our pain to be productive and manufacture higher and necessary dimensions of love in order to be what we need and who we need to be. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If it’s even possible, my smile is bigger and brighter. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am not afraid.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am not afraid.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am not afraid.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">©Candice Marie Benbow, 2010</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-895596936774845886.post-67719763454442906682010-05-02T16:08:00.000-07:002010-05-02T16:08:42.836-07:00Introduce Me To Love<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are living in some very interesting times. While fighting two wars, internationally, one is brewing within our own borders. It seems that every day we receive breaking news of a disaster, either natural or man-made, that claims the lives of many and leaves more destitute. We face the dawn with great uncertainty. Will we have jobs by the end of the day? Will we have homes by the end of the week? Will we even live to see tomorrow? These are questions people ask daily and the answers frighten them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My friend Anna called me Thursday with an epiphany. She was quitting her job, moving to Ghana and minimizing the “wants” in her life so that she could be of greater service to others. Then she said something that I’m still wrapping my mind around this very minute. She said “Candice, I need to be more productive with my life. I need to love more.” On the surface, one would say Anna’s delusional; she’s highly educated and has a job with great occupational prestige. Why would she give that up? Isn’t that what we all strive toward?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As much as I appreciate my friend’s intention to embrace a life of which she could be proud, it was her confession that she needed more love in her life that swept me away. Grant it, she and I are both single and look forward to the day when we’re paired with our forever, but that wasn’t the love that moved Anna to awakening. This representation of God’s love realized that she was lacking it in her own life. And to possess and personify love, Anna would do anything. Even move a thousand miles away.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But isn’t that what we need? Marianne Williamson called it “a return to love” but I think some of us need to be introduced to it first. Do we really know love? If we did, would we be comfortable placing ourselves in situations that undermine our potential and greatness? Have we ever met love? If we have, why didn’t the encounter cause us to incorporate more of it in our lives? Love is not some tangible or sometimes unexplainable emotion that is felt between two people. It is the highest sense of self.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is love that causes me to speak for people who will never know their voice has been silenced.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is love that enables me to avail myself as a vessel through which I pour into others and allow them to pour into me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is love that permits me to be the greatness my dreams are incapable of envisioning I can become.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This world is moving too fast and is becoming too ugly. The beauty of love makes life bearable. I, like my friend, need more of it. We all do. Until we are willing to do what it takes to become acquainted with love, we are not living. It can be as simplistic as seeing the best of myself in the worst of man and loving it into light. It can be as complicated as seeing the best of myself in the worst of myself and loving it into light. Regardless of the direction, love is the necessary path.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Though it will be some time before Anna is physically in Ghana, her spirit is already there. She loved herself enough to set herself free. If only we all were as courageous. For it is in that moment of courage when we shake the hand of the future and greet it with anticipation’s smile.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">©Candice M. Benbow, 2010</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-895596936774845886.post-7112713977106072072010-04-18T15:24:00.000-07:002010-04-18T15:34:26.131-07:00Why I Didn't Attend The Black Church's Funeral<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I missed it. I did not receive a Facebook invitation to it nor did I see its location retweeted on Twitter. Despite being there three days prior, it was not stated in our Sunday morning announcements and was not repeated at Tuesday night’s bible study. But somehow I’d missed it. I’d neglected to attend one of the most seminal events in African-American history and would not have known about it lest Professor Eddie Glaude not shared it with The Huffington Post. On Wednesday, February 24, 2010, Dr. Glaude told me and several others the shocking news: The Black Church was dead.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’d missed the funeral.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Or did I?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dr. Glaude’s assertion that “this venerable institution as central to black life as a repository for the social and moral conscience of the nation has all but disappeared” was grounded in three points. First, Professor Glaude stated that the conservatism within The Black Church as it addresses social issues had aided in its demise. Though Glaude may suggest that The Church has taken a stance on many issues plaguing African-Americans to the detriment of the community, the research shows that is not the case. In his work, Bowling Alone, Robert Putnam states that the American religious communities spend between $15 to $20 billion dollars annually on social service activities and that African-American congregations have been, and continue to be, trailblazers in combining spiritual and social responsibilities for the overall enhancement of the community. Additionally, after engaging in The National Congregations Study, Mark Chaves found that churched in low-income areas performed more social services activities than others and African-American churches are more likely to participate in specific types of social initiatives such as health, education, domestic violence, substance abuse, tutoring/mentoring and job assistance. Within academia, there is an extensive rolodex of scholars of who have committed themselves to investigating the social impact of The Black Church on the African-American community and have found it to be in the trenches, engaged in all levels of development. However, one does not need to peruse academic journals to become acquainted with involvement. From the church with a thriving AIDS Ministry in North Carolina to the church that owns a halfway house in California, Black Churches in every corner of the United States have been and continue to avail themselves as conduits of change.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Secondly, Professor Glaude maintained that the African-American community had evolved past the notion of a single establishment being its epicenter. He would submit that churches now share the stage with “vibrant non-religious institutions and beliefs” and that Black pastors now compete with successful White pastors for members. This is not new. In the same tone that slaves and recently freedmen did not attend Black Churches for fear of retaliation, today’s Black family attends a multicultural and/or nondenominational church led by a White pastor because of its more holistic approach. Yet, The Black Church remains here for them today as it was for the fearful Negro of yesterday. The Black Church is not ignorant to the fact that there is no single Black experience and the term itself expresses this. When Lincoln and Mamiya coined the phrase in 1990 to place all seven of the major African-American denominations under one umbrella, it was not to eliminate or negate that the experiences of each differed. However, it was to assert that, though varied, these denominations would face many of the same challenges by virtue of being comprised of and working with the oppressed. No matter how far the African-American community progresses, The Black Church will be central to that. Religious waves and fades of participation have been a part of the spiritual fabric of our country. The question should not be posed to The Black Church as what will it do as more members seek guidance from Joel Osteen, Rick Warren and Jentzen Franklin. The question should be posed to those members who left the Ship of Zion. They should be asked how can they resolve to continue membership in churches that do not work to uplift the communities in which they live.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lastly, Professor Glaude implied that we were witnessing the “routinization of black prophetic witness”- suggesting that, by virtue of The Black Church’s existence, its necessity is inherent. I question if this is a bad thing. When John Blassinggame described the Black Church as one of the community’s most enduring institutions in 1974, it was not hypothetical. When it was the only place one could find refuge from the master’s whip, The Black Church- in its infancy- stood for freedom. When it housed the Civil Rights Movement, The Black Church- as it began to mature- was our rock. Without The Black Church, we would have not understood the importance of gaining an identity that encompassed religious commitment and social responsibility. The Black Church was and is necessary. It proves its necessity when a mother, after losing her son to violence, can sit on a pew, hear a sermon and hymn and be comforted. It proves its necessity when a man, recently released from prison, can talk to the pastor and receive an opportunity for gainful employment from his recommendation. The beauty of a thing becoming routine is that it continues to become standard practice. When it comes to the social progression of our community, The Black Church should appreciate uniformity.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Finally, in his critique, Professor Glaude paints the bleak picture of Black America and asks “What will be the role of prophetic black churches on the national stage under these conditions?” My question in response: “Does it matter what churches do on the national stage if they’re performing effectively on the local one?” While not even I can ignore the conditions that affect African-Americans in disproportionate amounts, I do not believe that the solution to reducing those numbers is agreeing upon a unified agenda brought forth from an anointed national Black community Messiah and his disciples. Radical change must always begin locally. Even Jesus recognized this. Though His plan was to completely abolish the old rule and system, He did so by interacting with and changing the mindset of the people. Perhaps if many of those who call for Black Church reform would assist in it, the desire to see it move to the national stage would not exist.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But they would have to help us.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Many took Professor Glaude to task for engaging in a critique of The Black Church without being a member of one and/or assisting in its evolution and progression. They were correct. Critique cannot exist without accountability. Though Professor Glaude is clear in establishing himself as a philosopher, too many people have allowed the Black Community, and all its components, to be the place where they provided theory but no application. It cannot afford to have its native son advance this practice. The Black Church must be loved enough to be infiltrated by those who see its potential and will work to aid it transition into even greater power.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Is The Black Church dead? Of course not. Is it even dying? Not at all. But it is sick. Though The Black Church continues to be the greatest social welfare agency in it communities, the sustained impact of The Church’s involvement needs to be encouraged. As we adjust to life in this new millennium, The Church will have to adapt. Where it was fighting growth before, it must surrender. The theology taught in many of today's Black Churches must also be challenged. Too much of Black clergy are selectively and insufficiently preaching, leading to greater spiritual and social deficits among membership. Most importantly, the continued sexism in The Black Church must be questioned. When Black women can comprise over 85% of the congregation but less than 15% of its leadership, there is a problem. The Black Church is not without its obstacles. However, those that Professor Glaude put forth are not it. But just as willing as The Church needs to be open to critique, those who critique must be willing to work alongside those already committed to its growth and further it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So when I’m asked why I didn’t attend The Black Church’s funeral, the answer is simple. There wasn’t one.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">©Candice M. Benbow, 2010</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-895596936774845886.post-2960425539487466062010-04-05T23:51:00.000-07:002010-04-05T23:51:42.990-07:00Paying It Backward: Why The Church Doesn't Have Window Seats<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A lover of liberation theology, I love when The Church tackles the issues that have plagued our communities for decades and continue to impede on it. Christ challenged world systems, the status quo and commissioned us to do the same. Inherent, also, in this mandate was a commitment to holiness, righteousness and accountability. It is our responsibility to esteem each other in the faith, speak the truth in love and not deviate from His standard of living. To encourage us in doing so, many turn (and rightfully so) to The Church. It is there, many begin to understand just how their steps are ordered. The Church has a responsibility to assist its members (and those who may never join) in learning how to rightfully divide the word of truth. Yet, when truth is not spoken in The Church, adhering to this mandate can become problematic.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A little over a week ago, Erykah Badu released her video for her latest single “Window Seat”. In it, she walks down Dealy Plaza in Dallas, Texas (the same route President John Kennedy took before his assassination) and strips nude. On her back is written the word “Evolve”. When she gets to the place where President Kennedy was assassinated, she is completely naked and symbolically shot down. Erykah stated that her video was meant to challenge Groupthink Theory, which asserts that individuals will surrender their identity to conform to the group’s beliefs and agenda. Those beliefs and agenda are not necessarily in the group’s best interest but enable to it to reach an unanimous decision and (possibly) further one or more group members’ personal agendas. As a Sociologist, I think Groupthink Theories is one of the accurate and consistent theories available and can be seen everywhere: from family, to education and even The Church. Groupthink is damaging because it does not allow for the beauty of individuality to inform processes for the better. So, did I understand Ms. Badu’s “message” in the video? Yep. I got it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However, I am not naïve. Erykah Badu intentionally releasing this video days before her album hit stores was one part marketing strategy. In a time where the music industry is suffering and every little bit helps Soundscan and bank accounts, I doubt she didn’t think all this talk about the video would generate buzz around the album and translate into more sales. However, despite recognizing how much of a marketing genius she was for the timing of “Window Seat”, I can’t help but look at the social irresponsibility of it all. Do I think that same message could have been conveyed differently? Yes. Does it mean the message didn't get across? Nope. We got it. But it was, using the Dr. Huxtable’s analogy when Vanessa brought Dabnus Brickey home, the difference between the porterhouse being one a plate or garbage can lid. Following her tweets, a few interviews and blog posts, I don't even believe she's at all comfortable with the delivery because she's trying too hard to sell and justify it. It is what it is and let it be. I do feel she was negligent for "evolving" with kids walking down the street with their parents though. She even tweeted she hoped the kids would not be too traumatized by what they saw. Have we gotten so consumed with our own desire for pseudo freedom that we force others to engage in it with us? How do we reconcile the images we provide our children? No, “Window Seat” was not “Tip Drill 2.0” but how do we explain the difference? Do our daughters have to remove their clothes, for any reason and at any time, to assert to the world that they are free? Of course not. I love Erykah Badu. To this day, I still bump Mama’s Gun and “Honey” will forever be my “It’s finally summer” anthem. However, I can’t ride with Badu on this one. She was wrong…</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">…and apparently criminal. The Dallas Police Department has charged Erykah Badu with disorderly conduct and she was levied a fine of $500. I thought it seemed fair. She broke the law and should pay the consequences. Imagine my surprise when I see a tweet from a popular pastor to Ms. Badu on Sunday (April 4) afternoon stating his church agreed to pay her fine. The pastor tweeted earlier that he’d be preaching about her video. I was excited; I hope that it would speak truth in love and encourage all Believers to not look to worldly outlets to embrace our individuality. When he said his church was going to pay her fine, I got confused. Through Twitter, I asked him why. He responded and told me to look at the sermon on YouTube to understand. I did. I watched all five videos. I still don’t understand.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now I have followed this pastor’s ministry down through the years. He preached a sermon that got me through undergrad and just a few years ago, a sermon of his ushered in a defining moment for me. I’ve purchased his books and several sermons so I am no stranger to having a window seat (pun intended) to his ministry. I’ve supported him. Still, this sermon hurt as much as it offended. Now, given the start of the first video I can't tell you the text his sermon came from, though he did reference scripture. However, I can tell you that he begins by asserting that because we have embraced European standards and embrace an enslaved mentality, we reject images of Black beauty. He spoke to the oppression of African American women, not only in the communities but in the Church and that Erykah’s walk down Dealy Plaza was one in which she fully embraced being made in the image and likeness of God and ignored those who jeered. He spoke of the misogynistic images of women purported by entertainment and the media and did not understand how we could sway to the likes of Foxy Brown, Lil Kim and Trina but condemn Ms. Badu for “Window Seat”. While there were numerous points in his sermon that made me pause and cringe (I will never get/accept/cosign on that crucifixion analogy), the pastor posed a somewhat rhetorical question to those who did not approve of the video. He asked how can you think some is vulgar that reflects and is a mirrored image of what you look like and who you are?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While I understand the need to embrace and believe in who you are, I also understand that, as Believers, God has given us a blueprint in doing so. Do I want my daughter to be self assured? Of course. But do I want her to believe the only she can become that is by tossing her bra by the manhole? Of course not. I want her to be confident in the fact that she’s been transformed because her mind is renewed. She recognized that when she set her mind on things above and began secure in God’s plan for her, she didn’t need to make outward statements because her inward commitment manifested itself. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He stated that if this had been a White artist, agencies would have stepped up to her defense. He offered to pay her $500 fine because he said someone needed to stand with Erykah and asked the question “How many people are willing to pay your penalty?” I agreed, in part. I do think The Church needs to extend its love to Erykah but in the same manner that Jesus extended it to the woman who was caught in the act of adultery. After Jesus convicted the angry mob to realize their own sin and they walked away without stoning her, Jesus asked her where her accusers had gone and was there anyone there to condemn her. When she responded that there was no one, Jesus told her He wouldn’t condemn her either. And then He told her to “go and sin no more”. Jesus stood with her even while telling her that what she did was wrong. We need that kind of message. No amount of self assurance can excuse righteousness. And we certainly shouldn’t be paying for it. I would hope that The Church would see the importance and more empowering message in investing an additional $500 in programs that teach our children than paying the fine of someone who traumatizes them. Can we help pay the penalties of those who can’t afford to pay their own? If The Church is willing to pay the fines of a celebrity, the parking tickets of a college sophomore should be considered benevolence, as well.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are unfortunately living in a time when truth is considered treason. I don’t want my sin to be celebrated. I want to be challenged to live holy. I love my dear sister Erykah and she had the *right* to make that video (and suffer the legal and social consequences). But who will be brave enough to remind her that just because you can do something doesn’t mean that you should? Who will, in love, tell her that her freedom doesn’t need to be confirmed if she’s been freed by the Son? Who, without fear, will say to her that if she commits to dying daily, she won’t need a window seat because she’ll be living in peace and overflow? Who will say to our leadership that we want more than catch phrases to help get us free? Who will encourage them to be more concerned with purity than popularity? Who will ask them to preach the absolute Word of God?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I believe in accountability. Inherent in accountability should be correction and love. Accountability without correction is passivity and accountability without love is hypocrisy. I want God’s best for all of us. But that will take a commitment to living out His mandates, walking in His truth, abiding in His love. We can’t do that if we’re bound to false senses of freedom and suspect doctrine.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Get free…in Him.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">…and walk where you want- covered by His grace, favor, liberty, wisdom…and any other freedom garment available at Macy’s.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">@CMB, 2010</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1